Prosecutor Alexandra Bravo shot dead in Manta, Ecuador amid rising drug‑gang violence

On Sunday afternoon gunmen opened fire on prosecutor Alexandra Bravo and her sister in the port city of Manta, Ecuador, killing both women. Police say a lone armed man approached the pair as they walked toward a vehicle after leaving a café and sprayed them with bullets. A nearby patrol chased the suspect, who was reportedly injured, and medical alerts were issued to locate him.

Bravo, a veteran prosecutor with more than 15 years of service, handled high‑impact cases involving homicides, kidnappings, sicariats and organized crime, including an investigation into the June fire that destroyed 35 fishing vessels in Manta’s port. Her murder follows two earlier killings of prosecutors in the city over the past three years, reflecting a pattern of intimidation by the Los Choneros cartel, the country’s most powerful criminal organization. The attacks have intensified since President Daniel Noboa declared an internal armed conflict in early 2024 and deployed military forces against drug‑trafficking gangs.

The Prosecutor General’s Office condemned the crime, launched an investigation, and warned the assault may be retaliation for Bravo’s work against organized crime. Authorities have not yet linked the killing to any specific case.