Mario Pineida: Ecuador defender dies after being shot in Guayaquil | OneFootball

Ecuador defender Mario Pineida has died after being shot in Guayaquil.

According to local media, he was attacked on Wednesday outside a shop in the north of the city. Two people on motorbikes opened fire, hitting Pineida, his mother and another woman.

A special police unit has been sent to investigate and the area around a shop called ServiCarnicos has been cordoned off.

Guayaquil has seen a sharp rise in gang violence and drug trafficking. Between January and September, the city recorded 1,900 murders, the highest number in the country.

In September, three players from Ecuador’s second division were killed, and another local footballer was wounded in a shooting last month.

Pineida won nine caps for Ecuador between 2014 and 2021. He began at Independiente del Valle, joined Barcelona SC in 2016, and had loan spells at Fluminense and El Nacional.

Barcelona SC expressed deep sorrow at his death. At the time of publication, no arrests have been made.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk