A bar owner was shot to death by two unidentified gunmen as he was leaving a convenience store at Sofia Gonzaga Street, Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod City, 4:15 a.m. Thursday, April 18.
Killed was Elson Casalan Cepeda, 48, of East Homes 2, Brgy Estefania, Bacolod City, PCapt. Francis Depasucat, Police Station 4 chief, said.
Cepeda and his wife had just left their bar and had stopped by a convenience store, in front of the Estefania barangay hall, to buy food.
As the businessman emerged from the store and was about to open the door of his white sports utility vehicle two unidentified men got out of a parked car and shot him, CCTV video of the incident showed.
The gunmen then fled on board their car that was parked behind the SUV.
Cepeda’s wife and two children of relatives were in the SUV when the shooting happened, witnesses said.
The victim was shot multiple times and was declared dead at the Riverside Medical Center, Depasucat said.
Cepeda owns a bar in Barangay Villamonte and was engaged in the buy and sell business, Depasucat said.
Depasucat said they are still determining the motive for the killing and if it was business related.
Samson Cepeda, father of the victim, said his son informed him that he had received death threats.
The father said he does not know if the killing of his son was related to Small Town Lottery operations. They are calling for justice for his son, he said.*