Candidate in Ecuador's presidential election Fernando Villavicencio shot dead

COLOMBO (News 1st); On Wednesday(09), Fernando Villavicencio, a member of the country's national assembly, was attacked as he left an event in the northern city of Quito.

An intruder assaulted and shot the candidate in the head while he was getting into his car, according to a member of his team.

Ecuador's current president, Guillermo Lasso, has sworn that the "crime will not go unpunished."

According to witnesses, Mr Villavicencio, 59, was shot three times.

The suspect was also shot during a gunfight with security and died as a result of his injuries, the country's attorney general announced on social media.