Five people arrested in connection with murder of university executive in Quito
Ecuadorian authorities arrested five individuals linked to the murder of Santiago Ávalos, financial manager of a university in Quito, which occurred on 11 June 2026. The Prosecutor's Office states that audits motivated the crime.
Five people arrested in connection with murder of university executive in Quito
Ecuadorian authorities arrested five individuals linked to the murder of Santiago Ávalos, who worked as financial administrator of an educational institution in the country's capital. The armed attack that cost him his life occurred on 11 June 2026.
According to reports published by the outlet Primicias, prosecutors contend that the accounting reviews the executive was conducting would have triggered the deadly attack. Among those arrested is a young man hired as a hitman. During questioning, three of the detainees chose not to testify.
In a separate incident of violence, two armed robbers died when they attempted to steal 507,000 dollars that were being guarded by bank security personnel in a shopping mall. In a separate judicial ruling, the acquittal was confirmed of six workers—three uniformed officers and three drivers—who had been charged with protecting illegally sourced gold ore, after it was determined they had been deceived. In contrast, officer Mauricio Granda was found guilty as the principal perpetrator, although his sentence was set at 10 years and eight months because prosecutors charged him only as a secondary participant.
Ávalos's murder remains under investigation whilst Ecuadorian investigators examine the alleged conspiracy that would have ordered the attack.
Source: Google News CL — Santiago