Tributes have been paid to former Rangers player Arnold Peralta after he was killed in a drive-by shooting.

The 26-year-old was gunned down in a shopping centre car park in his hometown of La Ceiba, in Honduras.

His Ibrox teammate Nicky Clark led the tributes today by tweeting a poignant picture to his 41,000 followers.

It read: "Horrible news this morning, RIP Arnie."

Peralta played 24 times for Rangers during his 18 months with the Glasgow club.

He joined Ibrox from CD Vida in June 2013.

While with Rangers, Peralta won the 2013/14 Scottish League One title.

 

Fans also flooded social media sites with tributes to the young player.

Rangers Supporters Trust said in a statement: "Awful news about Arnold Peralta. Thoughts with friends and family. RIP."

The player's father, Carlos Peralta, said: "This is terrible. They killed my exemplary son.

"I can't say more because of the pain I feel."

French defender Sebastian Faure also paid tribute to Peralta.

He wrote: "Terrible news this morning.

"They killed a friend. My thoughts are with Vanessa and all his family."

 

 

Osman Madrid, director of the Honduran national football federation, said: "This is a tragic death that the national sport mourns."

A statement from the Honduras Ministry of Security read: "We regret the violent death of the outstanding sportsman Arnold Peralta, a young player of the national team of Honduras.

"The unfortunate incident occurred in the city of La Ceiba, in the parking lot of a shopping centre which has its own private security."