A 35-YEAR-OLD man with a physical disability was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding gunman while tending his family’s sari-sari store in Barangay Lower Lipata, Minglanilla in southern Cebu on Saturday morning, July 23, 2022.

Investigators believe that Adrin Solamo Llamas may have been killed due to his previous background as a petty thief.

Witnesses told police that Llamas, who has a walking impairment, was at his family’s sari-sari store at around 7:15 a.m. on Saturday when an unidentified man on board a black scooter approached him.

The man, who was wearing a helmet and mask to hide his identity, then pulled a .45 caliber pistol and shot Llamas several times before fleeing the scene. Llamas died instantly.

Local police recovered three empty shells and an unspent bullet from a .45 caliber pistol.

Criminal background

Staff Sgt. Allan Villasorda of the Minglanilla Police Station said Llamas’ parents told them that their son had a previous background as a petty thief due to a mental health disorder called “kleptomania.”

The victim’s parents also disclosed to police that a complaint was lodged against their son in Talisay City.

The complainant claimed that Llamas stole around P30,000 from him.

Llamas’ parents, however, settled the matter amicably and paid the complainant the equivalent of the amount that was taken from him.

Threats

But Llamas’ parents alleged that a companion of the complainant warned them that something bad would happen to their son if he would go back to Talisay City.

“Kontrola nang imong anak, nang! Kay og motaak nag Lawaan, Talisay og balik, naa gyud hayaon,” the companion of the complainant said, as recalled by Llamas’ parents.

(Control your son! Because if he sets foot in Lawaan, Talisay again, there will be a wake.)

Villasorda confirmed that there were already numerous complaints of theft against Llamas, but these didn’t reach their level as they were settled amicably in the barangay.

The police are still trying to establish other motives aside from theft as well as the identity of the suspect.