Ecuadorian soccer player Jonathan Gonzalez was assassinated on Friday, marking the third murder of an athlete in the South American country since the beginning of September, according to authorities.
The 31-year-old, nicknamed “Speedy” Gonzalez, suffered “gunshot wounds” in an attack inside a residence in the coastal region of Esmeraldas, which borders Colombia and is plagued by competing drug gangs.
Police could not provide a motive for the incident.
A second person, who could not be recognized, died while being transported to the hospital.
Ecuador is located between the world’s largest cocaine producers, Colombia and Peru, and has become the departure point for 70% of the world’s supply of the narcotic.
With the inflow of gangs, the homicide rate increased from six per 100,000 people in 2018 to a record high of 47 in 2023 before falling to 38 last year.
On September 10, two Exapromo Costa FC second-division players, Maicol Valencia and Leandro Yepez, were shot in an armed assault in the southwestern coastal city of Manta.
Valencia died in the gunshots, while Yepez died from his injuries two days later.
The club stated that the players were the victims of an attack aimed at another target.
Jonathan Gonzalez, who currently plays for 22 de Julio FC in the second level, had previously played for Olimpia in Paraguay and Leon in Mexico.
The Ecuadorian Football Federation and local clubs extended their condolences to the footballer’s family.
