PANAMA CITY, PANAMA – A shooting at a rural campus of the University of Panama on Friday has resulted in the death of one student and the wounding of another. The culprits, two unidentified gunmen, remain at large.
The incident transpired while students were engaged in field work at the educational institution’s regional center situated in Veraguas, approximately 155 miles (250 kilometers) southwest of Panama City. The student tragically killed in the armed assault was identified as 27-year-old Álvaro Leones.
Eduardo Flores Castro, the University’s Rector, expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and friends, praising Leones for his academic commitment and community spirit. According to Pedro Samaniego, the director of the regional campus, an armed individual approached a group of six students before opening fire without uttering a single word, prompting the victims to scatter.
The surviving victim, identified as Anel Terreros, was shot in the gluteus. The law enforcement authorities are yet to make any arrests in the case, but the regional prosecutor’s office confirmed it is actively investigating the homicide.
In a separate narrative, the National Police’s Deputy Commission Héctor Delgado, who is chief in Veraguas, suggested that the assault was carried out by two shooters arriving in a car. No suspects have been identified by Prosecutor Héctor Navarro as of yet.