Three Arrested in Panama City Linked to Chitré Homicide During Artistic Event

Panamanian authorities have apprehended three individuals in Alcalde Díaz, Panama City, in connection with a violent incident that occurred in Chitré. The arrests were made during Operation Typhoon, which involved five search warrants executed in the Alcalde Díaz corregimiento.

The detainees, two men and one woman, are suspected of involvement in an aggravated homicide and attempted homicide. The crime took place on May 23, 2026, during an artistic event in Chitré, leaving one person dead and two others injured by gunfire. According to official reports, police initiated a search for the vehicle believed to have been used in the attack.

The vehicle was located on Vía Circunvalación and pursued until the Escota bridge in the district of Parita. The occupants abandoned the car and fled into a wooded area. Authorities have since seized the rental car as part of their ongoing investigation.

Preliminary investigations indicate the deceased, a 24-year-old male resident of Alcalde Díaz, sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The injured victims were a 21-year-old man and a 17-year-old minor. Authorities are exploring the possibility that the fatal shooting is connected to criminal rivalries, given the victim's prior criminal record between 2020 and 2025, which included offenses against public safety, weapons and explosives possession, illicit substance seizures, theft, and outstanding arrest warrants. Investigations are continuing to fully clarify the case and bring those responsible to justice.