Seven killed in Ecuador shootings: Video
Seven people were killed in a shooting at an illegal cockfighting venue in Samborondon, Ecuador, according to local police.
The gunmen opened fire at the site, leaving the ground blood-stained and littered with bullets. Several victims reportedly suffered as many as 40 bullet wounds.
The attack, which took place in Guayas province on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, also left dozens injured, local media reported. Police have yet to specify the identities of the victims or the motive behind the shooting.
Guayas province, home to the port city of Guayaquil, has become a hotspot for violence as drug gangs linked to international cartels battle for control over key trafficking routes. The area is a major exit point for drugs headed to the United States and Europe.
Ecuador, once known for its peacefulness, has seen its homicide rate soar in recent years, rising eightfold over the past five years, as gang-related violence escalates.
