The youngest mayor in Ecuador’s history was found shot to death next to a staff member in a car on the side of the road in the South American country on Sunday morning, police said.
Reuters reported that Brigitte García (27), the mayor of San Vicente, Ecuador, and Jairo Roa, the public relations manager, were found shot to death in Manabí province.
National police said they were investigating the death, adding that the gunshots appeared to have been fired from inside the vehicle.
The car Garcia and Roa were traveling in was a rented car and was tracked by a GPS system inside.
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Brigitte Garcia, 27, the mayor of San Vicente, Ecuador, was found shot next to her communications director on the morning of March 24, 2024. (San Vicente City X Video)
García was a member of former President Rafael Correa’s Citizen Revolutionary Movement party.
Ecuador is in the midst of a wave of violence that authorities blame on drug trafficking.
Mr. Correa and his party’s presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez in the country’s recent elections called Mr. Garcia’s death an assassination of X.
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Brigitte Garcia, 27, the mayor of San Vicente, Ecuador, was found shot next to her communications director on the morning of March 24, 2024. (San Vicente City X Video)
“We just learned that they assassinated our fellow San Vicente Mayor Brigitte Garcia,” Gonzalez said in the post. “I’m shocked and speechless. No one is safe in Ecuador, no one.”
García is the latest politician to be killed in Ecuador.
Last August, presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who had criticized corruption and organized crime, was assassinated as he was leaving a campaign event just two weeks before voters went to the polls.
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Brigitte Garcia, 27, the mayor of San Vicente, Ecuador, was found shot next to her communications director on the morning of March 24, 2024. (San Vicente City X Video)
President Daniel Novoa declared a state of emergency in the country in January following a spike in violence. In one instance, armed men invaded a television station during a live broadcast.
Mr. Novoa also designated 22 criminal organizations as terrorist organizations.
Novoa’s declaration was made in January, but the state of emergency was extended earlier this month.
On Sunday, the Noboa government condemned the killing and said it was cooperating with the national police to ensure a speedy investigation.
Garcia’s death was a shock to the city of San Vicente.
“Let us always remember her indomitable spirit, her humanity and her dedication to making the world a better place,” the municipality wrote to Ms. “Eternal citizen mayor, please shine forever.” [Brigitte]. ”
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One of Garcia’s most recent posts informed voters that he has met with banks to consider phasing water projects to bring water to the state.
“Together, we will build a brighter future for our community,” she wrote.
Reuters contributed to this report.
