Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead following a campaign rally in the capital, Quito.
The suspect died from injuries sustained during capture, officials said.
Villavicencio, 59, a former legislator, was shot after a campaign event in Quito.
The country’s president Guillermo Lasso confirmed the killing of Villavicencio on Wednesday and promised the crime would not go unpunished.
“Outraged and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. My solidarity and condolences to his wife and daughters,” Lasso said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“For his memory and his fight, I assure you that this crime will not remain unpunished,” he said. “Organised crime has gone very far, but all the weight of the law will fall on them.”
Lasso said he would host top security officials at an urgent meeting.
The country’s main newspaper, El Universo, reported that the candidate was assassinated “hitman-style and with three shots to the head”.
Nine other people were injured during the attack, including a candidate for the legislature and two police officers, according to reports.
Villavicencio was one of the eight presidential candidates registered to stand in the elections scheduled for August 20.
