A man, who was involved in a shooting incident last year, was again arrested after he allegedly shot a pedicab driver in Brgy. 5, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Wednesday night, July 30.
The victim, identified as alias “Erick,” about 30 years old, was found lifeless with a gunshot wound to the head at around 7:47 p.m. in San Juan Tunga, Brgy. 5,
Capt. Rodney Sarona, San Carlos deputy police chief, said the area where the shooting occurred is a squatter settlement.
The police immediately launched a hot pursuit operation and arrested alias “Leo,” 27, of Sitio Agtotonoy, Brgy. Prosperidad, at around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Recovered from the suspect was a .45 caliber Colt pistol loaded with seven live rounds.
Sarona said the firearm and the suspect will be subjected to ballistic and paraffin tests at the Negros Occidental Provincial Crime Laboratory to confirm if he fired the weapon.
“Initial investigation suggests that the motive may be a personal grudge. We received information that there was personal aggravation between the suspect and the victim,” Sarona told DIGICAST NEGROS.
The police also learned through background checks that the victim had recently returned to San Carlos City from Manila.
Sarona said that while Leo has been apprehended, reports indicate that two to three men may have been involved in the shooting.
Follow-up operations and intelligence gathering are ongoing to locate and identify the remaining suspects, he added.
The suspect is now detained at the San Carlos City Police Station as murder charges are being prepared.*