Ecuadorian footballer Jonathan Gonzalez was shot dead on Friday in Esmeraldas Province, a region on the country’s coast that borders Colombia and is troubled by clashes between rival drug gangs.
Police confirmed that the 31-year-old, popularly known as “Speedy” Gonzalez, died after sustaining gunshot wounds during an attack inside a house.
Another person, whose identity has not been released, was also hit in the assault and died on the way to hospital. Authorities have not given a reason for the attack.
Gonzalez had played for second-division side 22 de Julio FC and previously featured for Olimpia in Paraguay and Leon in Mexico. His death adds to a series of violent incidents involving footballers in Ecuador this month. On September 10, two Exapromo Costa FC players, Maicol Valencia and Leandro Yepez, were shot during an attack in Manta. Valencia died instantly, while Yepez later passed away from his injuries.
Ecuador, located between Colombia and Peru, two of the world’s biggest cocaine producers, has become a key exit point for drug shipments. The presence of gangs has fueled violence, with the country’s homicide rate climbing sharply in recent years.
The Ecuadorian Football Federation and several clubs have extended condolences to Gonzalez’s family following the tragedy.