Pineida murder case – Two suspects arrested in connection with the attack that killed Ecuador’s former defender

Ecuadorian police have arrested two suspects in the murder of footballer Mario Pineida, who was shot this week in an attack that also killed his partner and injured his mother, underscoring rising violence in the Andean country.

The 33-year-old Barcelona de Guayaquil defender and former national team player was shot dead on Wednesday. Latin American clubs and fans have been mourning his death ever since.

The Public Prosecution Service of Ecuador said on Friday on

Police said the shooting took place in Samanes, a northern neighborhood of the coastal city of Guayaquil, about 165 miles (265 kilometers) southwest of the capital Quito.

RELATED: Ecuador international Pineida dies in attack, club says

Security camera footage shows Pineida and his partner leaving a butcher shop and then being shot by two men, one wearing a motorcycle helmet and the other wearing a cap.

Local authorities have not released the name of Pineida’s partner.

Pineida played eight games for Ecuador, but was not part of the 2026 World Cup qualifying squad. His last game for Ecuador was during the 2021 Copa América, as a late substitute in a group match against Brazil. He also played in the 2017 edition.

In November, a 16-year-old footballer from Independiente del Valle died from a stray bullet, also in Guayaquil. Two months earlier, Maicol Valencia and Leandro Yépez, both Exapromo Costa players, and Jonathan González, from 22 de Junio, died of gunshot wounds.

Published on December 20, 2025