According to reports, several individuals were sitting together playing cards in a residential patio when armed attackers suddenly arrived and began firing repeatedly at the group.

During the attack, 54-year-old Hugo Vicente Pin Rivas was struck by gunfire and died at the scene.

Two other victims — a husband and wife — were also wounded in the shooting. Both were rushed to a clinic in Manta where they remain hospitalized under medical supervision due to the severity of their injuries.

Authorities say the attack happened Saturday afternoon in the neighborhood of Eloy Alfaro in the coastal canton of Jaramijó, located in Manabí province.

Police secured the area and began collecting evidence as investigators work to determine the motive. Officials say the area has seen ongoing violence linked to drug trafficking and micro-trafficking disputes.

The victim’s body was taken to a forensic center while the investigation remains ongoing. Officials report that the Manta district, which includes Montecristi and Jaramijó, has recorded 92 violent deaths so far in 2026.