Footballer shot dead at 26 as player’s father begs gunmen to hand themselves in

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Panama footballer Gilberto Hernandez has been shot dead at the age of 26 after gunmen opened fire on a group of people in the nation’s capital of Colon. Hernandez, who made his international debut for Panama earlier this year, was killed in the shooting while seven others were left with injuries.

The 26-year-old was among a group of people gathered near a building on Sunday afternoon when he was gunned down by armed men. It is not yet clear if Hernandez, who also played for Club Atletico Independiente, was the intended target of the shooting or what the motive was.

Two gunmen forced a taxi driver to take them to the building before fleeing in the aftermath of the incident, according to the BBC. One of the suspects has since been arrested in a nearby flat but the other is said to remain on the loose.

There has been a rise in gun violence and murders in Colon in recent months, with gangs battling each other for control of lucrative drug-smuggling routes. Over 50 people have been killed in the city, which serves as a transit point for cocaine smuggled out of South America and into Europe, since the beginning of the year.

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Hernandez’s father has since urged gangs in Colon to ‘stop the violence’, calling on local authorities to ‘launch projects to save the youth’. He also begged his son’s killers to hand themselves in, urging: “Don’t cause more harm.”

Tributes came flooding in for Hernandez after the news of his death was reported, with the Panama football federation posting on X: “The Panamanian Football Federation regrets the sensitive death of Gilberto Hernández, player of the CAI [Club Atletico Independiente] and of Panama.

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“FEPAFUT extends its condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as to the entire CAI and Panamanian soccer family. Peace to his soul.”

Manuel Arias, president of the federation, added: “My most sincere condolences to the family of Gilberto Hernandez, professional player who loses his life today, unfortunately for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A sample of the violence that shakes our society, and that we must combat.”

Hernandez’s death comes six years after fellow Panama international Amilcar Henriquez was killed in a shooting incident, which also took place in Colon. He was part of the Panama team that qualified for the World Cup in 2018 before he was gunned down while leaving his house.

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