In a shocking turn of events, a copper mine protest in Panama turned deadly when a retired lawyer opened fire on the demonstrators, killing two individuals. The suspect, widely reported to be 77-year-old Kenneth Darlington, a retired American lawyer and university professor who resides in Panama, was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated homicide and illegal possession of a firearm.

The incident took place on a highway located approximately 55 miles west of Panama City, where protesters had gathered to block the road in opposition to a recent deal made by the Panamanian government to restart a copper mine. The traffic jam caused by the protest attracted a group of photographers and TV reporters to the site, capturing the events that unfolded.

Horrific video footage shows Darlington, allegedly caught in the traffic, walking towards the protesters and opening fire, resulting in the deaths of two men. According to reports from the Panama TV network TVN, which was able to access the court hearing on the shooting incident for a brief period, Darlington uttered the words, "this ends here" before leaving his vehicle and confronting the protesters.

The video footage also captured Darlington engaging in a heated argument with the demonstrators. He allegedly expressed his desire to speak to male leaders of the protest, dismissing the women present. As tensions escalated, Darlington pulled out a handgun from his pocket, continuing to tear away the blockades on the road. In response to taunts from the protesters, he reportedly replied, "Do you want to be the first?".

Without warning, Darlington allegedly began firing his weapon, striking one man wearing a black t-shirt who was carrying a flag, and another man also wearing a black t-shirt. The first victim fell to the ground immediately, while the second staggered to the side of the road before collapsing. The deceased were identified as teachers Abdiel D?­az and Ivan Rodr?­guez, 62.

After the shooting, Darlington proceeded to clear the roadblocks with his gun still in hand before returning to his car. When approached by another individual who asked if he was aware of what had transpired, Darlington confessed to killing one person and shooting another. He then got into his car, where his girlfriend was present, and stated, "Let's go." However, his girlfriend insisted they stay and promptly contacted the National Police Agents.

The police intercepted the car, confiscated Darlington's handgun, and took him into custody. The suspect appeared in a two-hour court hearing the following day, according to TVN.

The repercussions of the protest, which had been ongoing for over three weeks, have had a significant impact on Panama as a whole. Unions representing construction workers and teachers joined forces to oppose the reopening of the copper mine, agreed upon by the Panamanian government and a Canadian firm on October 20th. These protests have also highlighted a broader discontent with the government.

The roadblocks set up by the demonstrators have resulted in daily losses of up to $80 million for businesses, as reported by Panama's association of company executives. Furthermore, schools were forced to close for over a week, and thousands of medical appointments have been missed since the protests began.

Authorities have pleaded with the protesters to stand down, emphasizing that the copper mine is expected to generate $375 million in annual revenue. The tragic incident involving Kenneth Darlington has amplified tensions and prompted a renewed sense of urgency in finding a resolution to the ongoing protests.