An elderly motorist in Panama shot and killed two environmental protesters who were blocking a road. The incident, captured on shocking footage, sparked outrage and led to the arrest of the driver. The protests were organized against a mining contract with a Canadian company. LBC reported
On 9 November 2023, at around 11:06 am, a disturbing incident took place in Panama. Two environmental protesters, who were blocking a road, were shot dead by a motorist. The incident occurred on the Pan-American Highway in the Chame sector, located west of Panama City.
The incident was captured in shocking footage that has since gone viral. The video shows an elderly driver with grey hair and glasses calmly approaching the blockade. He can be seen waving his finger and engaging in an argument with the demonstrators before unexpectedly pulling out a gun and opening fire.
The aftermath of the shooting was also caught on camera. The footage shows people surrounding the lifeless bodies of the protesters lying on the road. The gunman is then seen being apprehended by the police and placed in handcuffs before being escorted to a squad car.
The suspect has been identified as Kenneth Darlington, a 77-year-old lawyer and professor who holds dual citizenship in the US and Panama. Photos released by the police show Darlington handcuffed to a pipe. According to Newsroom Panama and Agence France-Presse, Darlington allegedly declared “this ends here” before approaching the roadblock and engaging in a heated argument with the victims.
President Laurentino Cortizo of Panama expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased protesters and condemned the crime, stating that such acts have no place in their supportive society.
Darlington appeared before a judge in the town of La Espiga and has been remanded in custody. He is facing charges of murder and illegal possession of a gun, according to Eliécer Plicett, a lawyer representing the victims. However, due to his age, some local media reports suggest that Darlington may avoid jail time.
The incident occurred during a series of ongoing protests that have been taking place in Panama. These protests, organized by a powerful construction union and teachers’ unions, began after the government fast-tracked a contract for a Canadian mining company to operate an open-pit copper mine in a biodiverse jungle near the capital. The roadblocks set up by the protesters have caused significant economic losses and led to the closure of schools nationwide for over a week.
It is a tragic event that highlights the tensions between environmental concerns and economic interests, as well as the need for peaceful and constructive dialogue to address such conflicts..