In the heart of Quito, Ecuador, a city already on edge due to a declared state of emergency, a police officer fell victim to the very turmoil he was tasked to mitigate.
As Ecuadorian media reports, a distressing video making rounds on the internet shows the officer surrounded by three gunmen who shot and robbed him, one of the suspects even recorded a POV of the killing with a cellphone.
The state of emergency was declared by President Noboa following the escape of notorious gang leader, Jose Adolfo Macias, known by the alias ‘Fito.’ Macias, the head of the feared Los Choneros gang, is believed to have instigated unrest in various provinces’ penitentiaries. His escape led to a series of abductions of police officers, causing an uproar and triggering protests across the country.
The incident involving the officer serves as a stark reminder of the severe security challenges faced by law enforcement in Ecuador. The video, in addition to being a chilling testament to the officer's ordeal, also underscores the power and audacity of organized crime in the country