A MAN who allegedly raped and killed a young woman in Escalante City, Negros Occidental died in a shootout with policemen in Barangay Himogaan, Sagay City at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Police identified the fatality as Jojit Miñoza.

Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo), told SunStar Bacolod that Escalante City Police Station led by Chief Inspector Rollie Pondevilla in coordination with Sagay City Police Station conducted hot pursuit operation against Miñoza after they received an information about his presence.

Upon his apprehension, Miñoza reportedly pulled a firearm and pointed it at the police operatives, prompting them to fire at him for defense.

Miñoza, who died on the spot, was the suspect in the killing of a 21-year-old woman, who was found dead in a sugarcane plantation at Sitio Liki, Barangay Balintawak, Escalante City on Thursday.

Castil withheld the name of the victim, who was found by her sibling at 11:55 a.m.

He added that the family suspects the victim was sexually molested by an unidentified man, who was later identified as Miñoza.

The victim was subjected to an autopsy to determine if she was really sexually abused.