Assassination Shakes Ecuadorian City as Mayor of Manta Falls Victim to Attack

The mayor of Manta, Ecuador, Agustin Intriago, was assassinated in a brazen attack while inspecting public works in the city. A gunman opened fire, killing Intriago and a woman described as a "collateral victim." The driver of the stolen truck used in the attack, a Venezuelan national without a criminal record, was wounded and is now in police custody. The motive for the attack is unclear, but the mayor had previously reported receiving threats. Ecuador has been grappling with an increase in violent crime, attributed to power struggles between criminal gangs involved in drug trafficking. President Guillermo Lasso has vowed to bring the killers to justice.