On the night of September 12, 2025, the city of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas in Ecuador once again found itself at the heart of a chilling tragedy. According to police reports cited by Primicias and Xinhua news agency, a group of attackers arrived at a local pool hall in the Nuevo Amanecer neighborhood around 10:30 p.m., opening fire indiscriminately on the patrons. The outcome was devastating: at least seven people lost their lives, and four others were wounded.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. In fact, it marked the second such attack in less than a month in the same city. Just weeks earlier, on August 17, seven people were killed in a similar assault at another pool hall in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas. As reported by the Associated Press, this pattern of violence is part of a broader, grim trend that has gripped Ecuador in recent years.
Images and videos shared by local media and on social platforms painted a harrowing picture of the night’s events. Several men, dressed in black with vests and caps—many of them masked—were seen storming the establishment and opening fire as unsuspecting people played billiards. The attackers’ vehicle, which brought them to the scene, was later discovered burned in another part of the city, according to police commander Colonel Olga Benavides. This detail, reported by Devdiscourse, underscores the calculated nature of the crime and the lengths to which these groups go to cover their tracks.
Authorities have attributed the attack to an ongoing territorial dispute between criminal gangs. Colonel Beatriz Benavides, speaking to the press, stated, “Presumably this violent incident stems from a territorial dispute between organized crime groups and organized armed groups.” The police report further revealed that one of those killed and two of the wounded had criminal records for offenses including drug trafficking, criminal association, murder, and theft.
Ecuador’s struggle with organized crime is neither new nor confined to Santo Domingo. Over the past four years, the nation has experienced an alarming surge in violence, largely fueled by the expansion of operations by criminal organizations linked to powerful drug cartels in Mexico and Colombia. As AFP and Devdiscourse have noted, Ecuador has become a key transit point for cocaine shipments destined for the United States and Europe, and a hub for groups involved in extortion and contract killings. Some of these criminal networks even have ties to organizations based as far away as Albania.
The attack on September 12 was not an isolated event even within the short term. According to AFP, it was the fourth such attack in recent weeks, highlighting the relentless pace at which violence has escalated. The frequency and brutality of these incidents have left communities reeling and authorities under immense pressure to restore order.
President Daniel Noboa, who has been at the helm during this turbulent period, took the extraordinary step of declaring a state of internal armed conflict in January 2024. In a bold move, his administration designated 22 criminal organizations as terrorist groups, hoping to mobilize greater resources and legal powers to combat the surge in violence. Yet, despite these measures, the bloodshed has continued unabated. Official figures cited by the Associated Press show that between January and July 2025, Ecuador recorded more than 5,500 homicides—an increase from the 3,697 homicides during the same period in 2024. These statistics, grim as they are, only hint at the deeper social and economic turmoil wrought by the ongoing conflict.
The city of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, located roughly 130 to 160 kilometers (80 to 100 miles) west of the capital Quito, has found itself repeatedly in the crosshairs of this violence. The attacks on pool halls—seemingly ordinary gathering places—underscore how deeply the conflict has penetrated everyday life. As Devdiscourse observed, these venues have become tragic battlegrounds in a larger war over territory, drug routes, and criminal influence.
For many residents, the violence is not just a headline—it’s a daily reality. The surge in killings has forced people to alter their routines, avoid public spaces after dark, and live in a state of constant vigilance. Local businesses, especially those like pool halls that serve as community hubs, now operate under the shadow of fear.
Law enforcement officials face daunting challenges. The sophistication and ruthlessness of the criminal groups, many of which are equipped with resources and connections rivaling those of the state, make policing a perilous endeavor. The burning of the attackers’ vehicle after the September 12 shooting, for example, was a clear attempt to erase evidence and evade capture—a tactic that has become all too common in Ecuador’s current security landscape.
The government’s response has been multifaceted, involving increased police and military presence in affected areas, crackdowns on suspected gang members, and efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks. However, critics argue that these measures have yet to produce meaningful results. The persistence of attacks, even after the declaration of a state of emergency and the terrorist designation of gangs, suggests that the roots of the crisis run deep—entwined with poverty, corruption, and the transnational nature of the drug trade.
International observers have noted that Ecuador’s geographic position—sandwiched between major drug-producing nations and with access to vital shipping routes—has made it a magnet for criminal enterprises seeking new markets and transit points. The infiltration of foreign cartels, particularly from Mexico and Colombia, has further complicated the security situation, bringing with it new levels of violence and sophistication.
As the country mourns the latest victims, questions abound about what it will take to stem the tide of violence. Can tougher laws and increased security break the stranglehold of organized crime? Or will deeper social reforms and international cooperation be needed to address the root causes? For now, the people of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas—and Ecuador as a whole—are left grappling with uncertainty, hoping for a return to peace in a nation battered by conflict.
The attacks on the pool halls in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas serve as a stark reminder of the challenges Ecuador faces in its battle against organized crime. As violence continues to escalate, the resolve of both authorities and ordinary citizens will be tested in the months ahead.