Panamanian soccer player Gilberto Hernandez, aged 26, was tragically killed in a shooting incident in the city of Colon. The Panama football league confirmed this devastating news, though it remains unclear whether Hernandez was the intended target. Alongside his untimely death, seven others were wounded during the attack.

Hernandez had represented his country on two occasions, including a match against Lionel Messi’s Argentina, where he played in a 2-0 loss in March of the same year. This particular game was Argentina’s first in front of home fans since their victory in the World Cup in Qatar.

Hernandez’s grieving father has made a heartfelt plea to the youth of Colon, urging them to put an end to the violence and appealing to the authorities to initiate initiatives to rescue the young generation from this cycle of violence. He also called upon his son’s assailants to surrender to the authorities. According to reports, one arrest has been made by the police in connection with the incident. The Panama federation also expressed its condolences, lamenting the loss of Gilberto Hernandez and extending sympathies to his family, loved ones, as well as the entire CAI and Panamanian football community.

At the time of his tragic passing, Hernandez was a member of the Panamanian team Independiente. This sad event is reminiscent of another tragedy in April 2017 when another Panamanian player, Amilcar Henriquez, was shot and killed in Colon. Henriquez had amassed 85 international appearances for Panama and played a crucial role in the team’s efforts to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.