Soccer player Mario Pineida and his wife killed in targeted shooting in Ecuador

An Ecuadorian professional soccer player and his partner were killed in an armed attack in Guayaquil, Ecuador, according to police and the player’s club.

The shooting occurred Wednesday at around 4 p.m. in the Sauces 6 neighborhood of Guayaquil, according to Col. Edison Palacios, chief of the local police district. He said two suspects riding motorcycles opened fire inside a butcher shop, targeting a man and a woman.

After checking identification documents and confirming with family members, authorities said the victims were Barcelona Sporting Club player Mario Pineida and his partner.

Officials said Pineida’s mother was also injured during the attack. He said she suffered a minor, superficial head wound, was treated by paramedics at the scene, and is out of danger.

The suspects fled the scene, and authorities are working to determine the motive. No arrests have been reported.

“Barcelona Sporting Club informs, with deep sorrow, that it has been officially notified of the death of our player Mario Pineida, following an attack against him,” the club said in a statement. “This tragic news has deeply shaken our entire institution and leaves us in mourning.”

The killing comes amid a broader surge in violence in Ecuador. Guayaquil, the country’s largest city and main port, has been among the areas most affected by shootings linked to organized crime.