NATION : Son of Ex-Panamanian President Arrested in Threat to Kill Bush
The 21-year-old son of a former Panamanian president was arrested after threatening to kill President Bush because of the Panama invasion, officials said today.
“I have a .22-caliber rifle at home and a bullet with Bush’s name engraved on it,” a Secret Service affidavit quoted the man as saying. “Bush is coming to Lubbock and I will blow his . . . head off.”
Otto Lakas, a student at Lubbock Christian University, is being held in Lubbock County Jail today, said Lubbock County Sheriff’s Department Cpl. Rusty Brooks. He was arrested Tuesday afternoon.
Brooks confirmed that Lakas is a son of Demetrio B. Lakas, former Panamanian president. The elder Lakas was president of Panama from 1972 to 1978 and was described as a figurehead president during the time that Panama was ruled by Gen. Omar Torrijos.
The Secret Service said the owner of a pawnshop reported that Otto Lakes tried to buy a gun, saying he was unhappy about the U.S. invasion of Panama.
He was held on a federal charge of threatening the life of the President.
Officials say the defendant is a former Texas Tech student now enrolled at Lubbock Christian.
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