A Romanian tourist was shot in the leg in a store in Quito, Ecuador, after opposing a robbery committed by an armed man

A Romanian tourist was shot in the thigh of his right leg on Sunday, September 20, 2026, during a robbery at a store on República de El Salvador Avenue, in the Iñaquito district of northern Quito, the capital of Ecuador.

The incident took place at around 5:30 p.m. According to police, an armed man entered the store and tried to steal a customer's belongings. After the customer resisted, the assailant pulled out a revolver and fired, injuring the tourist. The attacker fled immediately.

Police officers arrived at the scene following an alert transmitted through community chats. Firefighters provided the victim with first aid and transported him to a medical center. The Judicial Police have launched an investigation, while surveillance camera footage is being analyzed to identify the suspect.

The case comes amid Ecuador's worsening security situation. The country has become an important hub for international drug trafficking, while armed robberies and gang violence have intensified. In 2023, the homicide rate reached 44.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, prompting authorities to declare an “internal armed conflict” against criminal groups in 2024.