Shot in the Airport: Gang Leader Killed

Thu Jun 18 2026 19:04:47 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A suspected gang boss was killed in a surprise ambush at Guayaquil airport, sparking questions about rising crime and government counter‑measures.

In Guayaquil, Ecuador, a 39‑year‑old gang boss was shot dead as he left the arrivals hall of the city’s airport. Two teenage gunmen fired from behind teddy bears and a flower bouquet, one escaping the scene. Police have arrested the teens and identified the victim as the head of the Los Águilas gang, a group declared a terrorist organization. The attack follows a nationwide state of emergency declared by President Daniel Noboa to curb escalating violence.

Shot in the Airport: Gang Leader Killed

Police outside Guayaquil airport after the shooting.

A 39‑year‑old gang boss, Carlos Alberto Suástegui Villanueva, was shot point‑blank as he left the arrivals hall of Guayaquil airport.

Record‑breaking footage shows two teenagers, one holding a rifle concealed behind a teddy bear, firing at Suástegui while another escaped.

Police say the victim was the leader of Los Águilas, a gang declared a terrorist group and linked to drug trafficking and extortion. Two teens have been arrested for the crime.

The attack comes a day after Ecuador’s president declared a state of emergency in ten provinces, giving forces the power to raid homes and hunt for drugs. Despite security pushes, the nation’s murder rate hit a record high last year.

Local residents shrieking as soldiers rushed to secure the arrivals area, and the airport shut down for more than two hours while investigators skied in.