Final answer:
The Boston Massacre, which occurred on March 5, 1770, was a protest against the Townshend Acts where British soldiers panicked and fired into a crowd of colonists, resulting in several deaths.
Step-by-step explanation:
The protest event in response to the Townshend Acts that resulted in the deaths of several people due to the panic of British soldiers is known as the Boston Massacre. This altercation happened on March 5, 1770, after a crowd of angry colonists began throwing snowballs and taunting British soldiers stationed at the customs house in Boston.
The escalating tension led to British soldiers firing into the crowd, leading to the death of five colonists which included Crispus Attucks, an African American who was among the first to die. This incident significantly contributed to the growing resentment towards British rule, played a crucial role in uniting the colonists against British authority, and set the stage for the outbreak of the American Revolution.