Assassination in Ecuador: TV host Efraín Ruales dies at age 36

Shock at the death of Ecuadorian actor and TV presenter Efrain Ruales of 36. According to 'BBC News', Ruales was killed on Wednesday, January 27 while driving his vehicle on an avenue in the north of Guayaquil (Ecuador).

According to initial police reports, Efraín Ruales died after he was shot up to four times while inside his vehicle.

Although there is no official version of what happened, police have ruled out a robbery it has been ruled out that it was an attempted robbery or carjacking. "All his belongings were inside the car," the BBC reports, and the police say there was no indication of a robbery.

The young TV personality had recently filed a police report because he received death threats and intimidating messages. They may be related to his assassination.

Efraín Ruales' death has shocked the country and the Latin American public in general. They mourn the loss of one of their best known faces. Even the president of Ecuador, Lenín Moreno, made a statement on the matter. "The investigation will be carried out with the utmost speed," he said.

The police say that they "cannot be sure if there were threats or not." National Police Commander Cesar Zapata told the BBC that they are "still in the process of investigating what happened."

While much about the incident is yet unknown, there have been reports that TV star was on his way home from the gym when it happened. During the trip, he was intercepted by the passengers of another vehicle and they allegedly killed him by shooting him up to four times.

Efrain Ruales, 36, was a well-known Ecuadorian television presenter on the Ecuavisa channel. He was known outside the country as well.

Born in Guayaquil on August 31, 1984, Efraín Ruales made a name for himself as an actor in TV shows like 'Solteros sin compromiso' (Unattached Singles) and 'La panadería' (The Bakery).

One of his last television jobs was that of lead host in the morning show 'En Contacto'. This is one of the most famous morning programs on Ecuadorian television.

Celebrities in and outside of Ecuador have expressed their sadness over the sudden loss of Efraín Ruales. The influencer and singer Johann Vera, ab Ecuadorian star living in Florida, said that "we have lost a truly marvelous human being."

The Venezuelan singer and political activist Nacho, who also lives in Florida, stated on Instagram that "asking for justice is worthless when what is stolen is a life."

Efraín Ruales is leaving behind his girlfriend, the actress and TV host Alejandra Jaramillo, with whom he presented the morning show 'En Contacto.

(Images: Facebook and Instagram accounts of Efraín Ruales)

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