Business, personal affairs eyed in killing of store owner in Talisay

A 57-year-old female store owner was gunned down by a still unidentified gunman just outside her store in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City on Sunday evening, July 3, 2022. | Photo by Paul Lauro

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Business and personal affairs are the possible motives that Talisay police are exploring to identify the lone suspect who killed a store owner on Sunday evening, July 3, 2022.

The shooting happened a few minutes after the son of the female store owner, Leonora Carlos, 57, last saw her alive. Carlos was gunned down by a still unidentified gunman on Sunday evening in Purok Matinahuron, Barangay Tabunok in Talisay City.

Carlos’ store was just located in front of her house, where she sold assorted things such as household tools.

LOOK: Store owner gunned down in Talisay City

The son of the victim, told police in the initial investigation that his mother, was closing her store when he last saw her talking to a man on board a motorcycle. The man was reportedly wearing a helmet, which was half open.

When the son went inside their store, he then heard shots fired. He hurriedly went outside the store. It was then that he saw his bloodied mother lying on the ground with a gunshot wound on her head.

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“Naay gamotor niagi. Nikalit lang og agi sa atubangan sa ilang balay, sa tindahan. Naigo ni sa ulo ang atoang biktima, then human nidretsu nig [padagan] ang suspect…Nagstoryahanay daw ning duha, initially,” Caballes said.

(There was a man on a motorcycle, who passed by the area. The motorcycle just suddenly passed by the front of the house, the store. The victim was shot in the head, then the suspect sped away…the victim and the suspect were talking to each other when the former was shot.)

Caballes said that with this, they were not discounting the possibility that the victim and the suspect knew each other.

The son also told police that his mother did not receive any death threats prior to the incident.

LOOK: Business and personal affairs possible motives in killing woman in Talisay City

Caballes further said that Carlos was a market administrator 10 years ago.

Talisay police investigators were continuing to gather additional information should there be witnesses, who saw the incident, considering that this happened past 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 3.

” Nakahelmet pero open ra ang front side. Wala nakamask, nakahelmet lang. Makita ang nawng,” Caballes added.

He was wearing a helmet, but the front side of the helmet was open. The suspect was not wearing a mask. His face could be seen.)

Caballes said that the suspect had surely an intent to kill the victim because she was shot closely in her head.

He also said that they were requesting for copies of footage of security cameras from nearby establishments to check if these had recorded the incident and could help identify the killer.

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