Seven Killed in Latest Pool Hall Shooting in Ecuador

At least seven people were shot dead at a pool hall in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, police confirmed on Sunday, marking the country’s latest gruesome massacre amid rising gang violence.

The incident occurred in the nightlife district of Santo Domingo, approximately 150 kilometres (93 miles) west of the capital, Quito. According to national police, the victims succumbed to gunshot wounds. Officers are actively investigating the attack and searching for those responsible.

Purported security camera footage circulating online reportedly shows multiple attackers wearing black masks firing on two men at the entrance of the pool hall, causing pedestrians to flee in panic. The gunmen then entered the hall and continued shooting before escaping as a police vehicle approached. AFP has not independently verified the footage.

Local media reports suggest the killings may be linked to organised crime in the region. Similar violent incidents have recently occurred, including a pool hall massacre in General Villamil Playas last month that left nine dead, and an attack at a cockfighting ring in April, killing twelve people.

Once regarded as a bastion of peace in Latin America, Ecuador has been increasingly destabilised by transnational drug cartels using its ports to traffic drugs to the United States and Europe. The proliferation of drug trafficking organisations has driven the country’s homicide rate from six per 100,000 residents in 2018 to 38 per 100,000 in 2024.

Between January and May 2024, official figures report over 4,051 homicides, marking the most violent start to a year in Ecuador’s recent history. Despite the government of President Daniel Noboa promising a crackdown on crime, widespread operations and repeated states of emergency have achieved little reduction in violence.

Last weekend alone, 14 people were killed in massacres in the province of Guayas, one of four regions where Noboa recently declared a state of emergency to combat gang activity.

Gangs competing for control over drug trafficking routes exploit Ecuador’s strategic location, its US-dollar-based economy, and corruption among authorities. Official data indicate that 73 percent of global cocaine production passes through Ecuadorian ports.

In 2024, Ecuador seized a record 294 tons of drugs, primarily cocaine, surpassing the 221 tons seized in 2023. Analysts warn that, without substantial reforms, Ecuador’s escalating gang violence will continue to plague the country and threaten public safety.

President Noboa’s administration faces mounting pressure to implement effective law enforcement measures and curb the power of drug trafficking organisations before the violence spirals further.