A 77-year-old American lawyer was arrested in Panama after shooting two environmental activists blocking a highway.
The tragedy most likely occurred near the town of Chame, Panama, during the third week of protests over a major mining contract. Under the agreement, Canadian company First Quantum Minerals will be able to operate the largest copper mine in the region for at least 20 years.
Drastic withdrawal
The camera captured dramatic scenes when a gray-haired man, irritated by the blockage of the Pan-American Highway (a road intended to connect the countries of the Americas, from northern Alaska, through Central America to southern Argentina) to connect, approached the demonstrators and waved his finger. He was then seen arguing with them before pulling out a gun and opening fire.
The video shows a man approaching protesters dancing to music and pulling a gun from his pocket. He appears to threaten them with a gun and reportedly asks them to clear and unblock the crossing, after which he tries to clear the way himself by removing obstacles. Then he argues with activists and suddenly just shoots at them.
Warning, the video is very graphic:
The recording then shows people trying to help the people shot, but one of them died before medical help arrived, the other at a local hospital. The handcuffed aggressor was then taken to a police car. According to Newsroom Panama and Agence France-Presse, the man was identified as 77-year-old Kenneth Darlington, a lawyer and professor with dual U.S. and Panamanian citizenship.
Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and said there is “no place” for such a crime in society.
According to media reports, the prolonged roadblocks caused businesses to lose as much as $80 million daily and led to the closure of schools across the country for more than a week. The activists’ action also made things difficult for ordinary residents.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
