Boy, 14, shot dead while loitering with pals

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy is in critical condition after he was shot in the head by an unidentified man on Leon Kilat St., Cebu City at 11 a.m. yesterday.

Jay, 14, was with his companions.

SPO4 Alex Dacua of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office said Jay’s group was among those who asked for leftovers from outside restaurants in the area or boarded jeepneys asking for money.

“Kaning bataa murag libud-suroy ni sila (These kids are vagrants),” added Dacua.

He said many witnessed the shooting.

“We will still withhold the name of the suspect so that we may not have difficulty searching for him,” said Dacua in Cebuano.

He added that the suspect bore a grudge against the victim.

He said the suspect possibly was mad at Jay’s group as they are known for their mischief.

Joe, 11, Jay’s younger brother, said they were talking with friends when the suspect approached them, and without a word, shot his brother.

Jay is the ninth among 11 siblings. He reportedly hails from Mambaling, Cebu City.

Dacua said Jay’s companions hail from different areas.

“They’re from afar. They just gather here in city,” Dacua added in Cebuano.

Jay was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

Dacua said the suspect is a “watchman” in one of the establishments where Jay was shot.

He said they will still investigate further the possible motive of the shooting.

“We are focusing on the grudge angle as the victim is known to misbehave a lot in the area,” said Dacua.