At approximately 1516 EST, initial reports from Chame, Panama revealed that two teachers participating in a protest on a roadway were shot by a single male assailant. After a brief verbal exchange, the shooter raises his pistol and fired at a group of protestors, fatally striking two. He was promptly arrested, reportedly without struggle. Panama En Directo first claimed the assailant was an American citizen.
? que le caiga todo el peso de la Ley a este Norteamericano.
Ahora si con mayor razón cierren chame, San Carlos y capira.
Todo lo que ha llevado este Gobierno corrupto pic.twitter.com/L5Nv9tCdml
— Carlos Martínez?? (@domo1396) November 7, 2023
Photos of the shooter and his ID were posted to social media by Panamanian National Police officers, revealing he had a Panamanian identification card. However, social media users also posted photos of his Facebook profile which claims he is an attorney which attended Florida State University.
The U.S. government or Panamanian government has not confirmed the citizenship of the shooter. However, President Cortizo did offer his condolences to those killed:
Expreso mis condolencias a las familias de los dos ciudadanos que perdieron la vida en un incidente registrado este martes en un sector de Panamá Oeste. Se trata de un hecho que no tiene cabida en una sociedad llamada a ser solidaria como la nuestra.
— Nito Cortizo (@NitoCortizo) November 8, 2023