Saturday, November 03, 2007 Suspected snatcher shot dead
A SUSPECTED snatcher was shot dead by one of three men who were pursuing him in downtown Cebu City past noon yesterday.
A jeepney driver, meanwhile, is in critical condition after he was shot by a minor who is reportedly a gang member.
In the first incident, bystanders heard three gunshots. They later saw a fallen teenager near one of the stalls of used clothing on Manalili and Magallanes Sts.
A witness said he saw the victim still standing even if he was already shot but the assailants punched him.
He heard the victim being asked where he hid the necklace.
Investigation
PO2 Julious Mabunay of the Homicide Section identified the victim as Junard Fernandez, 19, of Barangay Guadalupe based on his cedula taken from his pocket.
According to a police investigation, Fernandez was riding a passenger jeepney from Colon St. to Alumnos.
Somebody was heard shouting, “Snatcher!” The victim was then seen getting of the jeepney.
The three men also got off the same vehicle and ran after the suspected snatcher.
Necklace
One of the pursuers tried to grab Fernandez, but he was pushed instead. Another struck the suspect, who fell.
Fernandez was then shot.
A .38 revolver may have been used in the killing.
One of the perpetrators was also seen with a .45 pistol.
Mabunay said they have no strong leads on the men who shot Fernandez. People who saw the shooting are not willing to come forward, he said.
The three men were seen going their separate ways on foot. One of them reportedly later rode a jeepney.
The necklace was found among the used clothing.
Mabunay said they cannot establish whether one of Fernandez’s pursuers owned the necklace.
Rehabilitation
A sidewalk vendor was the first to identify the victim as Junard.
He said Junard has spent time at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center.
In the second incident, Jeffrey Cañete, 26, was sitting near the sports complex at F. Villa, in Barangay T. Padilla, Cebu City when the 17-year-old suspect arrived.
The teenager confronted Cañete for looking at him. He then fired his gun at the wall and ground. The third shot was aimed Cañete, who got hit in the face.
The suspect fled while Cañete was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center.
PO2 Mabunay said the teenager already had a grudge against Ca?ete over a conflict between his (suspect’s) sibling and the victim. (CPL of Superbalita)
