Mass Shooting Leaves Nine Dead at Ecuadorian Pool Hall Amid Worsening Drug Violence (video)

Photo from a video shows the gunmen shooting at people

At least nine people were shot dead on Saturday afternoon when armed assailants stormed a pool hall in General Villamil Playas, a coastal tourist city in Ecuador's Guayas province. The shooting occurred in a working-class neighborhood and is being investigated as part of a broader wave of drug-related violence gripping the nation.

According to the Ecuadorian prosecutor’s office, several armed men entered the establishment and opened fire on patrons. Viral images circulating online showed multiple bloodied bodies sprawled across the floor near pool tables, while bullet holes were visible on furniture at the scene. Security footage and mobile phone videos are being analyzed to identify the suspects.

A violent attack occurred at a pool hall in the Santa Isabel neighborhood of General Villamil Playas in the Guayas province of Ecuador

Eyewitness accounts and local reports indicate the attackers used automatic rifles during the assault. Two people were injured and are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital, police confirmed.

Police Colonel Jhanon Varela reported that only one victim had been formally identified at the scene, noting that family members had already removed some of the bodies before law enforcement arrived. "It is presumed that there may be more victims," he said.

Saturday night, grieving relatives gathered at the crime scene, holding vigils with coffins. Among the confirmed victims was a youth soccer coach affiliated with a provincial training school, according to Guayas Prefect Marcela Aguinaga. She condemned the violence, stating: "We will not stay silent. Nor will we surrender."

The attack comes amid a surge in organized crime across Ecuador. In the first five months of 2025, the country recorded 4,051 homicides — one of the highest rates in its history. The homicide rate has surged from 6 per 100,000 in 2018 to 38 per 100,000 in 2024, driven largely by competition among drug trafficking gangs for control of shipping routes and ports.

Local media reported that the victims were childhood friends

Following the dramatic recapture of Ecuador’s most notorious drug lord, Adolfo Macias — also known as “Fito” — in Manta last month, violence has intensified. Macias, head of the Los Choneros gang, had escaped from a maximum-security prison in 2024 but was re-arrested and extradited to the United States on Sunday. He faces a seven-count indictment in Brooklyn, including charges related to international cocaine trafficking and weapons smuggling.

The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed Macias' arraignment in federal court was scheduled for Monday. Los Choneros, which the U.S. has identified as one of Ecuador’s most violent criminal organizations, has longstanding ties with Mexican drug cartels.

In parallel developments, Ecuadorian authorities recently arrested Carlos D, alias "El Chino," the second-in-command of Los Lobos, another dominant cartel. He was captured at his home in Portoviejo and labeled a “high-value target.” The U.S. classified Los Lobos in 2024 as Ecuador's largest drug trafficking group.

In response to the escalating crisis, Ecuador’s Interior Minister John Reimberg announced a major security deployment in Manta, one of the country's key fishing and port cities. Over 2,500 police officers have been stationed at strategic locations to quell gang activity.

Ecuador, once regarded as one of Latin America’s most peaceful nations, has become a critical hub for international drug shipments headed to the U.S. and Europe. As transnational cartels tighten their grip, violent crimes like Saturday’s massacre underscore the deepening instability in the country.