Salinas beach shooting kills man during Ecuadorian holiday

A 24-year-old man, identified as Jefferson Ronquillo, was shot and killed by a gunman on a crowded beach in Salinas, Ecuador, on Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2026. The attack occurred during a holiday weekend, causing panic among numerous tourists present at the scene.

Witnesses reported that the assailant, wearing a black helmet, approached Ronquillo while he was with a group of friends under a parasol. After the shooting, the gunman fled on foot and escaped on a motorcycle with an accomplice, blending into the heavy holiday traffic. Surveillance footage from the area is being used by the National Police to identify the suspects.

Preliminary investigations suggest the killing may have been a targeted hit related to gang retaliation. Authorities noted that Ronquillo had a criminal record for micro-trafficking and was allegedly linked to the organized crime group ‘Los Águila’.