A hitman disguised as a doctor murdered a Colombian in a hospital in Panama.
The attacker infiltrated the medical center and shot at least three times at the victim, who had been hospitalized for a week after suffering a previous attack.
On the afternoon of Friday, December 13, it was learned that a patient at the Santo Tomás hospital was murdered during visiting hours in the men's ward number seven.
The attacker infiltrated the medical center and shot at least three times at the victim, who had been hospitalized for a week after suffering a previous attack.
The Public Ministry of Panama confirmed the incident on social media and announced investigations at the hospital, where it was reported that the Colombian, whose identity was not revealed, died due to gunshot wounds. The victim had been subjected to medical attention for the shots he received the previous week in San Francisco, where another person also died.
There were no more victims among the patients or hospital staff, according to a statement.
Statistics from the Attorney General's Office indicate that in 2023, 19% of the 556 homicides in Panama occurred in Colón and 18% in San Miguelito, these being the most violent areas after the capital, which accounted for 38%. Authorities report that 70% of murders are related to organized crime and gangs.
As of October 2024, 501 homicides have been reported. On October 10, President José Raúl Mulino launched a plan to combat violence, deploying more than a thousand police officers in dangerous areas.
There are around 150 gangs operating in Panama, which, although they have different styles than the Central American maras, are equally problematic.