- Panamanian National Footballer Shot and Killed
- Attack in Colón Leaves One Dead, Seven Injured
- Rising Homicides in Colón Amid Gang Conflict
A member of the national football team of Panama was shot and killed in the city of Colón.
In the city, gunmen opened fire on a group of individuals, including Gilberto Hernández, 26, who had gathered in a building.
The assault murdered Hernández and injured seven others.
It is not yet known if the footballer, who also played for Club Atlético Independiente, was the intended target or if there was a motive for the attack.
In recent months, there has been an increase in homicides in Colón as two rival gangs battle for control of lucrative drug smuggling routes.
This year, over 50 people have died in Colón, a 40,000-person city.
Cocaine from South America to Europe passes through the port city at the northern Panama Canal entry.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, local time.
Two armed men took a cab to a Barrio Norte building and started fire on the crowd.
The gunmen escaped the scene, but a suspect was apprehended in a nearby flat.
Gilberto Hernández also made his début for the Panamanian national team against Guatemala in March of this year.
The father of the player urged the youth of Colón to “stop the violence” and urged the government to “launch projects to protect the youth from this violence.”
In addition, he urged the perpetrators to surrender: “Do not cause further harm.”
Gilberto Hernández’s club and the Panamanian Football Federation conveyed their condolences to his family.
