A police officer died in the midst of a pursuit of several suspects who were allegedly implicated in a murder of an individual in southern Guayaquil.

Both violent events were reported in quick succession in the Las Acacias and Las Malvinas sectors on the afternoon of this Wednesday, January 14.

At the first scene, a man was murdered in Las Acacias, behind a well-known shopping center.

The victim fell on a sidewalk near a school.

The body was covered with a sheet on the sidewalk. Police units cordoned off the scene, while other units conducted searches in nearby areas.

Among the deployed units, a patrol car initiated a pursuit to catch suspicious individuals traveling on a motorcycle.

During the pursuit, the alleged suspects crashed, and the officers exited their unit to subdue them, but they fired shots.

Amidst the exchange of gunfire, a uniformed officer driving the police patrol car was struck by gunfire and crashed at a street corner in Las Malvinas.

Residents of the sector were alarmed when they heard a series of gunshots and then observed that the police vehicle ended up colliding with a Stop sign post and a corner house.

Upon approaching the vehicle, they found the police officer with bullet wounds and blood on his uniform.

The officer died at the scene. As a result of the crash, a civilian was also struck by the patrol car and injured.

This individual was reportedly struck while walking in the area.

Police personnel were deployed to the area to conduct investigative inquiries.

Personnel from Forensics and Dinased arrived to collect evidence and determine more details regarding both events.

The commander of Police Zone 8, Walter Villaroel, arrived at the scene.

The deceased officer was identified as Gian Carlo Jaramillo Barzallo.

The Security Bloc released a message offering a reward for anyone providing information leading to the location of those responsible for the crime. Calls can be made to 131.

Villaroel stated that the death of his fellow police officer cannot go unpunished. Operations are underway in surrounding areas to find those responsible for these violent acts. (I)