A FUGITIVE, who tried to kill a minor, was slain in a shootout with police at 6 a.m. Tuesday, August 14, in Barangay Mandilikit, Argao, Cebu.
Police identified the fatality as Dennis Pia Artiaga, who succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.
Artiaga had been wanted for a frustrated murder case pending before a court in Argao, according to Police Officer 1 Jayson Lobendina.
The case reportedly stemmed from Artiaga's attempt to kill a boy with a sickle.
Lobendina, in a phone interview, said the technical support company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-Central Visayas went to Mandilikit after receiving an information that Artiaga, 30, was living in the said mountain village.
The RFMB personnel tried to implement warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 26 Judge Francis Rainier Navarete, but Artiaga allegedly greeted them with a .38 revolver.
Artiaga's first shot misfired. He then pulled the trigger for the second time, but no police officer was hit.
One of the RFMB troopers retaliated and hit Artiaga in the chest but the wound was not fatal. The suspect then continued to fire while he was on the floor.
Artiaga hit himself in the left thigh and ceased firing at the police.
RMFB rushed Artiaga to Isidro C. Kintanar Memorial Hospital, where the attending doctor declared him dead on arrival. (KAL/SunStar Cebu)