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Key Points

Gunmen disguised as soldiers stormed a pool hall in Santo Domingo and opened fire on customers, killing seven people. This marks the second such mass shooting in a pool hall in the same province within just one month. Several victims had criminal records including drug trafficking and murder charges. Ecuador is experiencing record homicide rates with 4,619 killings in the first half of 2025 amid ongoing gang violence.

Key Points: Ecuador Pool Hall Mass Shooting Kills Seven in Santo Domingo

  • Gunmen dressed as soldiers opened fire indiscriminately at pool hall customers
  • Second mass shooting in Santo Domingo pool hall within one month
  • Victims included individuals with criminal records for drug trafficking
  • Ecuador recorded 4,619 homicides in first half of 2025
  • Attackers' vehicle found burned in another part of the city
  • President Noboa declared internal armed conflict in January 2024
2 min read

Seven killed in Ecuador's second pool hall shooting this month

Gunmen disguised as soldiers kill 7 in Ecuador pool hall shooting, second such attack this month amid record homicide rates and drug gang violence.

"The attackers arrived in a vehicle around 10:30 p.m. local time and shot indiscriminately - Xinhua news agency"

Quito, Sep 13

Gunmen disguised as soldiers opened fire inside a pool hall in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas in northwestern Ecuador, killing at least seven and wounding three others, local media reported.

The attackers arrived in a vehicle around 10:30 p.m. local time and shot indiscriminately at the customers in the pool hall located in the Nuevo Amanecer neighborhood, Xinhua news agency reported quoting local news outlet Primicias.

It was the second mass shooting in a pool hall in the Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas province in less than a month. On August 17, seven people were killed in a similar attack, police said.

One of those killed and two of the wounded in Friday's shooting had criminal records for drug trafficking, criminal association, murder and theft, according to a police report.

Images shared by local media show several men dressed in black, wearing vests and caps, arriving at the location and opening fire on people who immediately fell to the ground.

The vehicle allegedly used by the attackers was found burned in another part of the city, Benavides said.

Ecuador recorded 4,619 homicides in the first half of 2025, a 47 per cent jump from the same period last year and the highest six-month toll in its history, according to the Ecuadorian Organized Crime Observatory.

The country has stepped up its fight against drug trafficking gangs since Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a state of "internal armed conflict" in January 2024 due to an escalation of violence.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
So tragic. The fact that this is the second such attack in the same area within a month shows how out of control the situation is. My prayers for the victims and their families. 🙏
M
Michael C
The statistics are alarming - 4,619 homicides in just six months! This level of violence is unimaginable. The international community should support Ecuador in their fight against drug trafficking.
A
Anjali F
While I sympathize with the victims, the police report mentions some had criminal records. Still, no one deserves to be executed like this. The cycle of violence needs to stop somewhere.
V
Vikram M
Disguised as soldiers? That's particularly disturbing. These criminals have no limits. Ecuador's government needs to strengthen their security forces and intelligence networks urgently.
S
Sarah B
This is why drug legalization debates need more serious consideration. The illegal drug trade fuels this kind of extreme violence across so many countries. Time for new approaches.

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