Student shooting in Guayaquil underscores rising school violence in South America

Two armed attacks on students were reported in Guayaquil, Ecuador, within a 24‑hour period. On 23 June a 16‑year‑old was shot in the neck as he left school and was taken to a health centre. The following day, a student in uniform was intercepted on Avenida del Ejército and Calle A, shot, pursued on a motorcycle and likewise rushed for medical care. Police have opened investigations but have not released details on the victims' conditions or motives.

In Arequipa, Peru, the Ministry of Education’s SíseVe platform logged 318 cases of school‑related violence from January to June 2026. The majority were psychological (157), with 112 physical and 49 sexual incidents. Most cases (211) involved students as both aggressors and victims, while 107 implicated school staff. Authorities are hosting a National Multidisciplinary Congress on Safe Schools from 26‑28 June to discuss prevention strategies and support for children and adolescents.