PANAMA CITY, Panama — An unidentified gunman opened fire on a group of students on a rural campus of the University of Panama Friday, killing one and wounding another before escaping, according to school officials.
University Rector Eduardo Flores C. said via the social platform X that agricultural sciences students were doing field work at the university’s regional center in Veraguas about 155 miles (250 kilometers) southwest of the capital when the shooting took place.
The director of the regional campus where the shooting occurred, Pedro Samaniego, did not witness the shooting, but was on campus.
Samaniego said the man approached a group of six first-year students around 11 a.m. and opened fire without saying a word.
One student died at the scene and another was shot and wounded as the students were fleeing. The gunmen then hopped a fence and escaped.
“We don’t have any detail about the (shooter), only that he came in and shot the student and the kids went running and the wounded (student) was shot right in the gluteus,” he said. “Then the person jumped the fence and took off.”
The wounded student was hospitalized.
A law enforcement official who requested anonymity in order to discuss an ongoing investigation said that no one was in custody.
The regional prosecutor’s office said via X that it was investigating a homicide on the campus.
A university spokesperson also confirmed the shooting and said more information would be released.
A tragic incident occurred at a rural University of Panama campus, where one person was confirmed dead and another injured in a shooting. The official confirmation of the fatality and injury has left the university community in shock and mourning.
The shooting took place on the campus grounds, sending students, faculty, and staff into a state of panic and fear. The university campus, located in a remote area, was not equipped with the necessary security measures to prevent such a tragic event from occurring.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the shooting, working to determine the motive behind the attack and identify the perpetrator. The university has been cooperating with law enforcement to provide any information that may assist in the investigation.
The loss of life and injury resulting from the shooting has deeply impacted the university community. Students, faculty, and staff are coming together to support one another during this difficult time. Counseling services have been made available to those who may be struggling to cope with the trauma of the incident.
The university has also implemented additional security measures to ensure the safety of its students, faculty, and staff. Increased police presence on campus, security patrols, and emergency response drills are being conducted to prevent any future incidents from occurring.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, the university community is left grappling with the senseless violence that has disrupted their lives. The loss of a member of their community has left a void that will not easily be filled.
In the wake of this tragedy, the university is coming together to mourn the loss of one of their own and support those who have been injured. The sense of unity and solidarity among the university community is a testament to their strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
Moving forward, the university is committed to ensuring the safety and security of its students, faculty, and staff. Measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, as the community works to heal and rebuild in the aftermath of this tragic event.
