Guayaquil, Ecuador – The Silueta X Association, a member of the Ecuadorian Federation of LGBT+ Organizations, formally requested the State Attorney General’s Office on October 27, 2025, to investigate a potential hate crime as the motive behind the murder of Stalyn Omar Larreategui Arias (40). The victim, a nurse and openly gay man widely known as “La Pequeña,” was killed on the night of Friday, October 24, in the El Recreo sector of Durán.
Details of the Attack and Victim Profile
According to testimonies collected by the National Police, Larreategui Arias was with a group of friends in a public area when a taxi carrying four individuals stopped nearby. One occupant exited the vehicle and opened fire on the group. Larreategui Arias was struck by multiple projectiles and died despite being rushed to a nearby health center.
Silueta X emphasizes that the victim’s identity as an openly gay man is the key factor that necessitates an investigation into the possibility of homophobic hatred driving the crime. The organization highlights this case as part of an “alarming pattern of violence against LGBTI+ individuals in Ecuador.”
Demand for Accountability and Justice
Silueta X is demanding that the investigation not discard the hypothesis of a crime motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation, in strict compliance with protocols for diversity-sensitive investigations.
Mgs. Diane Rodríguez, Director of Silueta X, stated:
“We deeply mourn the loss of Stalyn. Every life taken by homophobic violence is a failure of the Ecuadorian State in its duty to protect all its citizens equally. We demand that Stalyn’s sexual orientation be investigated as a possible motive for the crime. Impunity only fuels more hatred and more violence.”
The Association has announced that it will provide legal and psychosocial support to the victim’s family and will closely monitor the development of the investigation, which remains in its initial phase with no suspects yet detained by the National Police.
