Ex-US Marine runs amok in Talisay; shoots dead stepson, brgy chief; gets killed by cops

This is what remained of the house of Dean Torrefranca, a retired US Marine, who burned his house and shot it out with police officers in Barangay Lawaan III, Talisay City on May 16. Torrefranca was found dead inside the house an hour later. | Delta Dyrecka Letigio

TALISAY CITY, Philippines — A retired US marine officer died in a shootout with the Talisay City Police inside his burning house after he killed the barangay captain of Lawaan III and his stepson.

Dean Torrefranca was reportedly in a property feud with Jedd Ybañez, the son of his late wife, Delia, in a previous marriage.

The battle over the properties started when Delia Ybañez Torrefranca passed away a few months ago.

Torrefranca and Ybañez were battling for custody of a house and two cars.

At 9 a.m., Jedd Ybañez and his brother Boboy Omaña, tried to settle differences with Torrefranca at the barangay hall.

But they failed to come to an agreement, and Torrefranca left the barangay hall first.

Around 11 a.m., Lawaan III Barangay Captain Jimmy Bartilic accompanied Jedd Ybanez and Omaña to the Torrefranca residence to again try to settle Ybañez and Torrefranca’s differences.

However, when they tried to talk to Torrefranca at the house, they were greeted by the latter already armed and was wearing a vest. 

Bartilic and Ybanez tried to flee from the house when Torrefranca started shooting. Both were shot dead by Torrefranca outside the house.

Torrefranca then went inside and hid in the second floor of the house as police responded.

There was then a shootout with police officers and then Torrefranca set the house on fire.

There were then sporadic gunshots in an hour until the firing stopped. 

Police later found the burnt body of the suspect.

Police said that the suspect was shot dead in the shootout.

Sinas said they are still trying to find out if Torrefranca had a record of running amok as a US Marine./dbs