Panama footballer, Hernandez shot dead at 26

Panama footballer, Hernandez shot dead at 26.

Panama international defender Gilberto Hernandez has been shot dead at the age of 26.

The Panama football league confirmed the news in a statement. The incident happened in the city of Colon but it is unclear if Hernandez was the target of the attack.

Seven others were injured in the incident.

Hernandez played twice for his country and one appearance came in the 2-0 loss to Argentina, where Lionel Messi scored, in March of this year. It was Argentina's first game in front of home fans since winning the World Cup in Qatar last year.

The player's-stricken father has urged the youth of Colon 'to stop the violence' and called on the authorities to 'launch projects to save the youth from this violence'.

He was also quoted by the BBC as urging his son's killers to hand themselves in. According to The Guardian, there has been one arrest so far by police.

The Panama federation also issued a statement, saying it 'regrets the sad passing of Gilberto Hernandez.