Ecuador journalist under witness protection shot dead

Ecuadoran journalist Tomas Beltran, who was under witness protection, was shot dead outside his home in Manabi province, press freedom group Fundamedios said Monday.

Fundamedios said Beltran was shot on the night of November 8 as he drove into his home in Calceta, in Bolivar. Ecuadoran authorities have not disclosed a motive.

Beltran ran the digital news outlet Calcetines. Fundamedios said he had received death threats in April after accusing the mayor of Bolivar of corruption.

The Inter American Press Association condemned the killing and called for a “thorough and swift investigation” to identify those responsible. It said the crime was especially serious because of the threats and intimidation Beltran had reported.

Fundamedios said two of Beltran's colleagues were killed in April and that his car was attacked with chemicals in 2023. Beltran had been in a witness protection program since 2025.

Six journalists were killed in Ecuador in 2025, according to the Ecuadoran foundation Periodistas Sin Cadenas.