World bronze medal winner Alex Quiñónez, 32, was gunned down in Ecuador on Friday night.
According to The Guardian, the champion sprinter and another person were killed outside of a shopping mall in Guayaquil. The Minister of Sports of the South American nation released a statement regarding Quiñónez’s tragic death.
“Today we lost a great athlete, a person who made us dream, who made us excited. The National Police are at the scene and the authorities are conducting the corresponding investigations. He will forever remain in the hearts of all Ecuadorians.”
They later posted, “Thank you for having invited us to dream big and for the infinite joys that you gave us, you leave a great legacy in Ecuadorian athletics.”
Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso also released a statement, the publication reported.
“We are very sorry for the painful loss of Alex Quiñónez, father, son, a great sprinter who marked the sport,” Lasso posted on social media. “Our sincerest condolences to your loved ones. Rest in peace. Those who take the lives of Ecuadorians will not go unpunished. We will act forcefully.”
On Sunday, the sprinter’s body was received amid a “burning chapel.” A chapelle ardente “Burning chapel” is a chapel or room in which the corpse of a sovereign or other exalted personage lies in state pending the funeral service.
According to Radio La Calle, Quiñónez and the man identified as Arcadia Ramírez Christopher Jojairo, an Ecuadoran singer and alleged member of the gang “Los Tiguerones” were together at the mall when shots rang out–striking and killing both men. The runner may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The publication reported in Spanish that before the men were murdered, Jojairo posted a video declaring he was a member of the gang. Los Tiguerones is a notorious crew known for causing violence inside Ecuadoran jails.
Los Tiguerones, Los Choneros, Los Lobos, Los Lagartos and other gangs have wrought havoc in Ecuador in the past year, according to Radio La Calle. The Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) has renounced the violence and has asked the government to get a handle on the gangs.
Quiñónez was the first Ecuadoran athlete to bring home a medal in a global event. In 2020, he qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo but was suspended after he failed to make himself available for drug testing.
Our prayers go out to his family.
