Timeline of the massacre in Guayaquil, which left 22 dead
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After the massacre, the Police conducted an operation and arrested 14 suspects.
A violent attack left 22 dead and six injured in the Socio Vivienda 2 sector, in the Nueva Prosperina district, in the northwest of Guayaquil, a coastal city in Ecuador.
The massacre, carried out on Thursday, March 6, 2025, occurred at four different locations in the area and spread terror among the residents.
Location of the massacre
March 6, 2025: The beginning of the attack
The violence began in the afternoon when a group of at least 20 hitmen arrived in several vehicles to the area.
Witnesses reported that the attackers were armed with rifles and 9mm pistols. Without warning, they began to shoot indiscriminately at people on the street and inside homes.
The gunshots were heard several blocks away. According to witnesses, the attackers broke into three houses and a condominium, killing their occupants.
The gunfight forced dozens of people to flee their homes and seek refuge in any safe place.
In the midst of the chaos, the first police units arrived at the scene, finding bodies lying in the streets.
In the midst of the chaos, the first police units arrived at the scene, finding bodies lying in the streets. Initially, 12 fatalities and six injured were reported. However, as time went by, the number of deaths increased.
Night of March 6: The death toll rises
At 6:30 PM, the National Police reported that the death toll had risen to 19. Later, the police chief of the Nueva Prosperina district, Herbie Guamaní, confirmed that the official number of deaths had reached 22, with three more injured.
Authorities identified several victims with criminal backgrounds related to theft, drug trafficking, and possession of weapons. This reinforced the theory that the massacre was part of a dispute between criminal groups.
According to the commander of Zone 8, Pablo Dávila, the attack was likely caused by a territorial war between organized gangs.
The Tiguerones gang was pointed out as the main perpetrator, although the involvement of the Fénix and Igualitos gangs was also mentioned.
March 7: Security operation
At dawn on Friday, March 7, 2025, the Police and Armed Forces launched a massive operation in Nueva Prosperina. They raided 200 homes in the Socio Vivienda and Barraca neighborhoods with the aim of capturing the perpetrators.
According to the Police, 14 people were arrested during the operations, including two teenagers. Five of the arrested individuals had criminal records for drug trafficking, weapon possession, and homicide.
Additionally, the following items were seized:
- Seven firearms
- Eight magazines
- More than 2,000 rounds of ammunition
- 170 doses of drugs
- Two recovered motorcycles
The Ministry of the Interior, however, reported that the number of detainees was 12, all of whom were linked to the criminal gang Los Tiguerones.
Government’s reaction to the massacre
Presidential candidate Daniel Noboa reacted to the attack with a message on his X account, stating that all police officers and military personnel who take action against organized crime would receive a presidential pardon.
The government has maintained a state of emergency in Guayas and six other provinces, which has been in effect for two months and renewed at the beginning of March. This measure allows for the mobilization of the Armed Forces and the enforcement of restrictions such as curfews.
The massacre in Socio Vivienda has sparked an intense debate about security strategy in Ecuador. While authorities defend militarization as a necessary action, human rights organizations warn of possible abuses and the lack of a comprehensive plan to stop the violence.
Nueva Prosperina remains one of the most dangerous districts in the country, with 180 murders recorded so far this year. Uncertainty and fear have taken hold of the residents, who are calling for answers and effective solutions to the growing wave of violence.
