Eight killed and three injured in shooting at Ecuador nightclub

Eight people have been killed and three injured in a shooting at a nightclub in Santa Lucía, Ecuador, local police have confirmed.

The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday, August 10, when a gunman entered the currently unnamed nightclub and opened fire.

Seven people between the ages of 20 and 40 died at the scene, while an eighth person later passed away in hospital. Three people were also injured during the shooting.

The club’s owner also died in the incident, brother to the mayor of Santa Lucía, Ubaldo Urquizo, local media have reported.

In a post on Facebook, the local government paid condolences to the mayor for his loss, writing: “We join with respect and solidarity with their grief, lifting our prayers that they may find strength and comfort during this difficult time,” (per BBC).

According to the BBC, police said the motives behind the shooting are unclear, though the area in which the incident took place is currently facing a wave of violence.

CBS News reports that Santa Lucía, which sits in the coastal province of Guayas, is thought to be one of the country’s most dangerous areas – one of seven provinces in a “state of emergency” due to a recent crimewave.

In July, at least nine people were killed in a shooting at a pool hall in southwest Ecuador. A week later, another 17 people were killed in a shooting at a bar in the Guayas region.

In just the first five months of 2025 – between January and May – there were 4,051 homicides recorded in Ecuador. The government declared a state of emergency in April across seven of its 24 provinces.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter