PUERTO EL MORRO, GUAYAS, ECUADOR – OCTOBER 16, 2026 In the evening hours, a group of gunmen attacked the La Chola bar. According to witnesses, they arrived in a black pickup truck and indiscriminately opened fire on patrons who were drinking alcohol and playing pool inside the establishment.
While local residents spoke of eight to nine people killed, initial police reports gave a lower death toll. A woman and a child were reportedly among those killed. The exact number of fatalities could not be reliably confirmed.
The attack took place in an area marked by rivalry between Ecuadorian criminal groups fighting for control of territory and the drug trade. According to reports, local residents had warned of threats involving extortion and the forced recruitment of young people. However, the involvement of any specific gang in the massacre has not been independently confirmed.
