The elderly American lawyer accused of fatally shooting two climate protesters in Panama was previously arrested for illegally possessing an AK-47 and an M16 — as chilling new details emerged about the deadly confrontation caught on camera this week.
Kenneth Darlington, 77, was seen on Tuesday casually approaching a group of protesters blocking the Pan-American Highway in the Chame sector, in protest against a proposed mining contract for a Canadian company.
He was filmed waving his gun around and beginning to wag his fingers while arguing with protesters – before finally opening fire, according to footage and police.
According to court testimony on Wednesday, the confrontation began when Darlington saw protesters again blocking the highway — with him allegedly turning to one of the people he was traveling with to say, “This ends today.”
After getting out of his vehicle, he asked to speak to the leader of the demonstration saying, “I don’t want to speak to women. I want to talk to men,” according to a court report by local TVN.
Kenneth Darlington was arrested after he was caught on camera walking up to environmental protesters blocking a Panama highway on Tuesday and blasting two of them to death. Bienvenido Velasco/EPA-EFE/Shutt Darlington, 77, was previously arrested for illegal possession of weapons, including an AK-47 and M16.Bienvenido Velasco/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Footage posted online shows Darlington approaching climate protesters, who blocked highway in Panama. Bienvenido Velasco/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The video shows one of the protesters asking if he is “going to kill somebody,” to which Darlington asks, “Do you want to be the first?” Bienvenido Velasco/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Several men at the scene then approach her and try to calm her down, as an argument begins, caught on camera.
One of the protesters can be heard in the footage saying, “Why didn’t you shoot?” while others shouted, “Are you going to kill someone?”
“Do you want to be the first?” Darlington could be heard responding — before suddenly opening fire, according to recordings and court testimony.
The first victim – seen in the footage carrying a flag and wearing a black T-shirt and blue cap – immediately fell to the ground.
As another man in red pulled back, Darlington could be seen firing again — hitting another man in a black T-shirt, who fell after first grabbing his shoulder and grimacing in pain.
Other footage showed people standing around the body on the road.
A La Policía Nacional como que le han gave instructions to delete the publication of Chame’s killer, Kenneth Darlintong.
¿Hay tanto poder detrás de este sujeto?¿A qué o quienes le tienen miedo? pic.twitter.com/F8kmtvtssH
— Davis Álvarez ?? (@davisclick) November 7, 2023
Abdiel Díaz died at the scene, while Iván Rodgriguez was pronounced dead later at a local hospital.
When Darlington got back into his car, another passenger reportedly asked him, “Do you realize what has happened?”
Crowds gathered around the dead protesters after a video showed Darlington shooting them. Bienvenido Velasco/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock One of the protesters was shot dead at the scene while the second was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Bienvenido Velasco/EPA-EFE /Shutterstock
“Yes, I killed one and shot another,” he replied, the Panamanian court was told.
“Let’s go,” he reportedly ordered a woman with him, thought to be his girlfriend.
But he replied, “We’re not going” – and instead called a National Police agent, who stopped the car and confiscated Darlington’s gun, TVN reported.
The American lawyer was then seen handcuffed and taken to a squad car.
Darlington was previously arrested in 2005 after local authorities found weapons, including an AK-47 and an M16, in his Panama City apartment, according to the Daily Mail
He claimed in court that the weapon was just part of a collection, and he was cleared of illegal possession of a firearm, the report said.
Darlington was seen waving a gun around. Bienvenido Velasco/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The lawyer with dual American-Panamanian citizenship faces charges of murder and illegal possession of firearms, local TVN reported.
But he may once again avoid prison and be sentenced to house arrest because of his age, local reports suggest.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
