International footballer shot dead aged 26 with seven others injured by gunmen
Panama star Gilberto Hernandez has been shot and killed at the age of 26
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The Panama star has tragically passed away
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Panama defender Gilberto Hernandez has been shot and killed by gunmen in his home country.
The 26-year-old, who played for Club Atletico Independiente, was attacked in the seaport of Colon.
Seven others were injured in the attack, with violence rising while two gangs battle for control of drug-smuggling routes.
He has become the second Panama player killed in the city over the past six years, with midfielder Amilcar Henriquez tragically losing his life in 2017.
It is currently unclear whether Hernandez had been specifically targeted or merely caught up in the violence.
A taxi driver was forced to take two gunmen to a building in Colon's Barrio Norte neighbourhood on Sunday afternoon local time.
They then fired on a group, with two armed men managing to flee the scene.
One was later arrested at a flat nearby.
"The Panamanian Football Federation regrets the sad passing of Gilberto Hernandez...," FEPAFUT posted on the social media site X.
"FEPAFUT extends its condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as to the entire CAI and Panamanian football family."
Panamanian Soccer Federation chief Manuel Arias paid tribute to Hernandez, while also saying the violence 'shakes our society'
He also called for it to be tackled to prevent the gangs from claiming more lives in the future.
Hernandez's father asked for the killers to hand themselves in and also pleaded for them not to cause any more harm.
He also urged Panama's young people to 'stop the violence' and urged authorities to 'launch more projects' to prevent incidents from happening in the future.
Colon has a population of just 40,000 people, according to data from 2017.
Yet there have already been 50 people killed this year.
Hernandez made 105 appearances in the Liga Panamena de Futbol, with Arabe Unido, Herrera F.C. and C.A. Independiente among the teams he played for.
He also made two appearances for his country, too.
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Six years ago, Henriquez was murdered in a dive-by shooting.
The player was shot while leaving his house, with two other people also injured.
Arabe Unido, a club he had three stints with during his career, retired his No 21 shirt in his honour.
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