Gilberto Hernández, a player for Panama’s national football team, has been shot dead in the city of Colon of Panama.
Gunmen reportedly opened fire on a group of people and among them was Gilberto Hernández after they gathered in a building in the city.
Hernández, 26, died on the spot according to reports while seven others were said to have sustained injury in the attack.
Futballnews cannot ascertain at this time if the footballer, who also played for Club Atlético Independiente, was the main target of the attack.
However, we understand that there have been a massive rise in murder cases in Colon over the past few months as two rival gangs fight for control of lucrative drug smuggling routes.
Gilberto Hernández is one of the unfortunate 50 people who have been killed in a city of 40,000 inhabitants, so far this year.
The port city, which is located at the north entrance to the Panama canal, is said to be a transit point for drug smugglers from South America through Panama to Europe.
Gilberto Hernández passed away in the shooting that happened in the afternoon of Sunday, 3rd September, 2023.
Two gunmen were said to have forced a taxi driver to drive them to a building in the City’s Barrio Norte neighborhood and they shot at the group gathered there.
Immediately after the shooting, the gunmen reportedly fled the scene, leaving the player dead and several others injured.
Gilberto Hernández made his debut in the Panamanian national side in March this year in a match against Guatemala.
His father appealed to the youth of Colón “to stop the violence”, and also called on the authorities to “launch projects to save the youth from this violence”.
Hernández’s father also asked his sons killers to turn themselves in by saying: “Don’t cause more harm.”
Panama’s football federation and Gilberto Hernández’s club expressed their condolences to his family.
Who is Gilberto Hernández?
Gilberto Hernández Bultrón (26 June 1997 – 3 September 2023) was a Panamanian professional footballer who played as a centre-back.
Hernández made 105 appearances in the Liga Panameña de Fútbol, having played for Árabe Unido, Herrera F.C., and C.A. Independiente.
The defender earned two caps for the Panama national team.
He made his debut for Árabe Unido against San Francisco F.C., at the Estadio Agustín Sánchez and on 4th January, 2022, he signed for Herrera F.C..
Gilberto Hernández moved on to join C.A. Independiente on 8th June, 2023 and made his debut with the club on 27th June, against Veraguas United FC, at the Estadio Agustín Muquita Sánchez.
