Cebu City shooting leaves woman wounded, homeless man dead

A policeman, who responded to the shooting along Leon Kilat Street in Barangay Kalubihan, Cebu City at past 1 a.m. today, September 24. | Contributed photo via Paul Lauro

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A woman was wounded while a homeless man was killed by a stray bullet during a shooting attack by a motorcycle-riding gunman and his cohort against the woman early this morning, September 24, 2023, in downtown Cebu City.

Police Staff Sergeant Kitz Daryl Palaña, investigator-on-case of the Carbon Police Station, identified the wounded woman as Marissa Cabonsi Cabaleon, who suffered a gunshot wound on the face.

Palaña also identified the homeless man, who was killed by a stray bullet as Arnel dela Cruz.

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Shooting happened along Leon Kilat St.

Dela Cruz was hit by the stray bullet in the body. The policemen, who responded to the shooting alarm in the area found an unconscious and bloodied Dela Cruz, who was already lying on the ground near his belongings which were inside a sack.

The emergency medical responders, who arrived later in the area, declared Dela Cruz as already dead.

The shooting happened along Leon Kilat Street in Barangay Kalubihan, Cebu City near the a university in the area at past 1 a.m. today.

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Motorcycle-riding gunman shot woman

According to Palaña, in his police report, that at past 1 a.m., Cabaleon was roaming in the area looking for something to buy, when two men on a motorcycle suddenly arrived and stopped near her.

The backrider pulled out a gun and started shooting Cabaleon, who was hit in the face.

She, however, was only hit by a bullet in the face once as she managed to not get hit by the following shots fired at her.

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Man sleeping on sidewalk stood up as shooting started

Dela Cruz, who was sleeping on the sidewalk near the area where the shooting happened stood up to find out what the ruckus was all about and instead he got hit by a stray bullet, which was one of the shots fired at Cabeleon.

After firing at Cabeleon, the unidentified gunman and his cohort fled the area.

The bloodied Cabeleon managed to run to the Carbon Police Station to report the shooting. 

She was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

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Investigation ongoing

When asked about the condition of the victim, who survived, Palaña begged off, saying that the investigation was still ongoing.

He also said that he could also not give details on the victim’s background and what she was doing in the area at that hour because the investigation was still ongoing.

Palaña was referring to the ongoing investigation that the policemen of the Carbon Police Station were conducting for the possible arrest of the assailants and to determine the motive of the crime.

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