Diana Carnero was assassinated on Wednesday afternoon in Guayas. The 29 year old was filming a video highlighting poor road conditions when two armed men approached her on a motorcycle and shot her in the head.

The assassination of Carnero occurred following a meeting led by Guayas Governor Alberto Molina in Naranjal, aimed at addressing the surge in violence attributed to turf wars between criminal organizations and smaller gangs, which have also targeted politicians. President Daniel Noboa had previously declared a 60-day state of emergency in January, declaring war on gangs and granting the military authority to conduct operations within prisons to regain control.

This wave of violence claimed the lives of several politicians: Councilman Charbel Rouhana, 50, was shot dead in front of his home in Yaguachi on October 24, 2023. Bolivar Vera, 42, a councilman in Durán, was found dead on September 8, a day after being abducted. Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, 59, was assassinated in August after leaving a campaign event in Quito. In July, the mayor of Manta, Agustín Intriago, 38, was shot dead while inspecting works.