Double homicide in a bar in Ecuador during a nighttime celebration
Authorities are investigating the incident, which could be related to the criminal history of one of the victims
What seemed like a quiet night in a bar was interrupted by violence in the El Paraíso neighborhood of the José Luis Tamayo parish, known as "Muey", in Santa Elena, Ecuador. Two men lost their lives in a shooting that broke out in the "El Arbolito" bar in the first minutes of Sunday, April 14.
The establishment was packed with customers enjoying the weekend when tragedy struck without warning. An individual, dressed in a burgundy red shirt, apparently like any other customer, joined the celebration accompanied by a friend in a black sweater.
However, the evening took a sinister turn when the man in red pulled out a gun and opened fire mercilessly on two men who were at a table near the dance floor.
The shots echoed through the premises, causing chaos and terror among those present, especially the women who worked there. Witnesses reported that the shots appeared to be aimed specifically at the victims, without involving others present in the bar.
Danny Clemente Panchana, 32, who was wearing a blue sweater, lost his life instantly, while his partner Rubén Borbor González, who was wearing a white sweater, was seriously injured and taken to the Rafael Serrano López hospital, where he unfortunately died in the way to the medical center.
It is speculated that the hitmen were specifically looking for Clemente Panchana due to his previous criminal history. According to police records, he had been arrested multiple times in the past for crimes related to the possession and sale of drugs.