President Lasso confirms presidential candidate, Villavicencio assassinated

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso confirmed on Wednesday the killing of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, and announced that a meeting of the country’s security cabinet would be held within minutes.

“I am outraged and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

In his memory and the name of his struggle, I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished.

“The Security Cabinet will meet in a few minutes in the presidential palace,” Lasso said on Twitter.

El Universo newspaper reported earlier on Wednesday that Villavicencio had been killed by three shots to his head during a rally in the country’s capital, Quito.

Eight more people were injured during the rally, and seven of them have been taken to a hospital, according to the report.

Villavicencio did not garner enough electoral votes to win the presidential election in Ecuador scheduled for Aug. 20, according to the latest polls.