Ecuadorian investigative sources said Sunday they are searching for a taxi driver suspected of involvement in the fatal shooting last week of a Japanese couple in Guayaquil.

Relatives have named the victims as Tetsuo Hitomi, who was shot and killed in the attack on Dec. 28, and his 27-year-old wife Mariko, who was shot and seriously injured. Their identities have not been made public by Japanese authorities.

According to the sources, the Japanese honeymooners were attacked by a group of at least eight people who emerged from a vehicle or vehicles that had been following their taxi, which stopped suddenly in a residential area.

The couple were shot in the abdomen and legs and all of their belongings were stolen, the sources said.

Ecuadorian Internal Affairs Minister Jose Serrano reportedly said the police have obtained crucial information about the case and expressed confidence the suspects will be arrested soon.