- Jonathan Gonzalez, 31, was killed in a gun attack in Esmeraldas, Ecuador
- Gonzalez, nicknamed “Speedy,” was a former player for Olimpia in Paraguay and Leon in Mexico
- This marks the third athlete murder in Ecuador since September, following the deaths of two Exapromo Costa FC players earlier this month
Ecuadorian soccer player Jonathan Gonzalez, known as “Speedy” Gonzalez, was tragically killed on Friday in a violent attack in the coastal province of Esmeraldas.
Eko Hot Blog retrieves that the 31-year-old footballer, who previously played for clubs like Olimpia in Paraguay and Leon in Mexico, was shot inside a house in what police have described as a targeted assault.
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Authorities confirmed that Gonzalez suffered “gunshot wounds” during the attack, though they did not provide specific details on the motive behind the crime.
A second unidentified victim was also reported dead after being rushed to the hospital.
The province of Esmeraldas, which borders Colombia, has long struggled with violence fueled by rival drug gangs, with the ongoing drug trade from neighboring Colombia contributing to the rise in criminal activities.
Ecuador, wedged between the world’s top cocaine producers, has seen its homicide rate escalate in recent years, further highlighting the country’s worsening security crisis.
Gonzalez’s death marks the third killing of an athlete in Ecuador in the past month. Just days earlier, two players from the second-division team Exapromo Costa FC, Maicol Valencia and Leandro Yepez, were shot in a separate armed attack in the city of Manta on September 10.
Valencia died instantly, while Yepez succumbed to his injuries two days later. The Exapromo Costa FC club confirmed that the players were victims of a targeted attack meant for someone else.
The Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) and several local clubs expressed their shock and sadness over Gonzalez’s tragic death, offering condolences to his family and loved ones.
The country, grappling with rising violence, now faces increased concern over the safety of its athletes, as more incidents of violence involving sports figures have been reported.
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