Panama police pursue gang leads in footballer's murder

Panamanian authorities are actively pursuing leads in the assassination of 23-year-old footballer Ivis Ubarte, known as "La Rosadita." Ubarte, a member of Inter Panamá CF and a call-up to the national team, was killed inside her residence on Tuesday night in Antón, Coclé province. Several hooded individuals forcibly entered her home and shot her multiple times.

Investigators are examining surveillance cameras for footage that might track the perpetrators' movements before or after the attack. The Attorney General's Office confirmed that various investigative actions are underway to clarify the circumstances of the homicide and identify those involved. "There is an investigation being conducted by the regional unit in Coclé, in the specialized section for Crimes Against Life and Personal Integrity, Homicide and Femicide. Activities have been carried out in this particular case, such as canvassing, interviews, and collecting surveillance footage, to understand the route of the subjects who caused this death," stated the prosecutor.

This incident marks the second time a woman has been fatally shot in Coclé province during August. The previous case involved a 31-year-old woman killed in a shootout at a nightclub in Antón, which also left three men injured. The National Police Director, Jaime Fernández, indicated that the investigation is exploring links to gang activity. "This case is not outside of an investigation that is ongoing in that line of inquiry regarding some gang group, as people again have a record, and likewise, we are in the line of investigation, searching, and we already have several identified; operations will be conducted throughout the rest of the week to make arrests," he said.

Suky Yard of the Fundación Vida Mujer expressed dismay over the continued murders of women by firearms, regardless of the circumstances. Ubarte's death brings the total number of women shot and killed in Panama to 10 in 2026. The killing has sent shockwaves through the Panamanian women's football community, as well as among Ubarte's family and friends.