Suspect arrested in killing of lawyer Leonardo Toledo in Guayaquil
A suspect was captured following a pursuit in Guayaquil in connection with the murder of lawyer Leonardo Toledo, defence counsel for Mayra Salazar in the Metástasis case.
One detained following the murder of lawyer Leonardo Toledo in northern Guayaquil
A suspect was arrested on Tuesday, 27 October 2026 in connection with the murder of lawyer Leonardo Toledo, according to confirmation from primicias.ec. Toledo had been the defence counsel for Mayra Salazar, a former official of the Provincial Court of Justice of Guayas under investigation in the Metástasis case.
The crime occurred in the morning of the same Tuesday in the Sauces 2 sector in northern Guayaquil. Walter Villarroel, police commander of Zone 8, reported that officers pursued a red vehicle that fled and intercepted the automobile in the Casuarina sector.
The man arrested has no criminal record. Four firearms were found in his possession: one 9-millimetre rifle-type weapon and three pistols. Additionally, agents found a device for breaking down doors, an element commonly used in raids, a detail that drew investigators' attention.
The vehicle in which the suspect was travelling had been reported as stolen days before the crime. Police suspect that those involved, who wore jackets similar to those used by investigative personnel of the institution, were attempting to hide in the Socio Vivienda Dos sector.
The evidence was transferred to the competent authorities. The detained individual will be prosecuted with the objective of revealing the identity of the other suspects who managed to escape and of establishing whether there is any connection with organised crime groups.
The name Leonardo Toledo gained national relevance in 2024 upon taking on the defence of Mayra Salazar within the Metástasis case. His last social media post dates from 9 October, the date when the holiday for the Independence of Guayaquil began. In that post, accompanied by a photograph of himself, he wrote: "We went to the countryside. Monday to continue working so that Ecuador knows: The strawmen of Xavier Jordán (CORTIJO) and The NarcoMayor who wants to be re-elected".
In July 2024, the Office of the Attorney General opened the Implacable case for alleged trafficking of influence, a case derived from the judicial corruption scheme of the Metástasis case. In that proceeding, both Toledo and Francisco Fierro, external counsel for Banco del Pacífico, were investigated.
Source: Google News EC — Guayaquil