Shoot-Out in El Cangrejo Leaves Two Would Be Robbers Injured

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - At about 3:15 this afternoon three Venezuelans tried to hold up the "Sport and Fashion Show of the Americas" that was being held in the convention center next to the El Panama hotel in El Cangrejo. The three armed men arrived on two motorcycles, and at least one of them was wearing a wig. They managed to grab a bag full of money from the event manager near the entrance and flee. A security guard gave chase and opened fire against the three. This then turned into a running gun battle between the three Venezuelans, the security guard, and police. There was one police officer stationed at the entrance of the Fiesta Casino, and he shot two of the fleeing robbers, causing them to crash their motorcycle into a parked car. The three men then tried to flee on foot, towards the area of Via Veneto. They turned left up Via Veneto and were apprehended across the street from the Pomodoro restaurant, near the entrance to the parking lot that's there. Several cars on the street were damaged by the flying bullets, and there were traces of blood splattered everywhere along the street from the two injured and bleeding robbers who were trying to run away. All three were apprehended, the money was recovered, and no one else besides the robbers were hurt. In a nutshell, these guys were idiots - there are more cops per square meter in the area of Via Veneto than practically any other place in the city.

Copyright 2010 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.