Panamanian international defender Gilberto Hernandez tragically lost his life on Sunday. The 26-year-old, who earned two caps for Panama earlier in the year, died after gunshots were fired from a passing car. Six other individuals were also injured in the shooting.
The incident occurred in Colon, a city located about 50 miles north of Panama City, where crime rates have surged due to conflicts between rival drug gangs.
Gilberto Hernandez had been playing for the Panamanian club Club Atletico Independiente. A suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting, following police operations and search procedures in Colon.
The Panamanian Football Federation (FEPAFUT) expressed its condolences to Hernandez’s family and the entire soccer community in Panama in a statement on social media.