Panama Shooting Kills 1, Injures Another at University of Panama Rural Campus

A rare school shooting has happened in Panama, particularly at a rural campus belonging to the University of Panama on Friday. Students doing fieldwork were the ones who were attacked in the university's regional center in Veraguas.

University Rector Eduardo Flores Castro identified the student who was killed as 27-year-old álvaro Leones. Castro also stated that the director of the regional campus, located 155 miles from Panama City, Pedro Samaniego, was on the campus when the shooting happened but did not see it happen.

"Leones was an outstanding member of our university community, whose academic commitment and spirit of solidarity leave an indelible imprint on the entire university community," University of Panama Rector Eduardo Flores Castro told the Associated Press. He also sent his condolences to the victim's family and friends.

The rector also added that an unidentified man approached a group of six first-year students around 11 AM on Friday before suddenly opening fire on them without saying anything.

"We don't have any detail about the (shooter), only that he came in and shot the student and the kids went running and the wounded (student) was shot right in the gluteus," the university rector told the AP. "Then the person jumped the fence and took off."

New Details Regarding University of Panama Shooting Surfaces; There May Be 2 Suspects

Veraguas police chief Hector Delgado revealed in a video message to Reuters that there were actually two shooters and they arrived at the University of Panama's regional campus together in a car before opening fire at the group of students.

"A vehicle stopped and two people got out, firing shots at a group of people who were on campus," the police chief said, adding that Alvaro Leones was mortally wounded while the other student, Anel Terreros, was also hit but it was not fatal. He survived but was taken to a hospital.

So far, not much is known about the two suspects. However, police have now launched an investigation though no arrests have been made yet. It is noted that, unlike the United States, school shootings are rare in Panama, but they do happen as this recent incident showed.

Shooting Happened in a Road Over Logging Protest in Panama Last Year

While shootings in general do happen in Panama, they still happen. Just last year, one fatal incident happened over a protest against logging, according to The Independent.

Thousands of demonstrators have set up blockades all over the country to stop loggers. However, these also stopped traffic in general and have caused businesses and schools to close. It attracted massive media coverage back in Panama, but even the cameras were not enough to deter an elderly man from shooting two of these protesters.

The victims, who were both teachers, were protesting when Kenneth Darlington, 77, got out of his vehicle, argued with the protesters, and shot at them. Darlington was arrested while the two teachers he shot were killed.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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