CEBU CITY, Philippines – The suspected gunman and five other suspects of a shooting incident that injured a 16-year-old boy in Mandaue City, were arrested during a hot-pursuit operation on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
The shooting took place in Lower Casili, Mandaue City at 2:27 a.m. on Wednesday, October 3, 2023, records show.
The victim was identified as alias Kyler, 16 years old, single, and a resident of Purok Isiong, Lower Casili, Mandaue City.
Kyler was reportedly sitting along the roadside with two of his friends when an alleged riding-in-tandem stopped near them.
The back rider, who was the gunman, then pulled out a firearm and without provocation, shot the victim hitting him on the right side of the body.
The alleged suspect also punched the minor in the face several times based on the initial investigation of the Canduman Police Station.
Responding policemen rushed the victim to the Mandaue City Hospital but he was later transferred to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for treatment.
The victim remains at the hospital recovering from his wounds.
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During a hot pursuit operation, members of the Canduman Police Station arrested six persons suspected of being behind the shooting incident.
The six are reportedly members of a gang but their criminal records are still being verified by authorities.
In coordination with the Danao City Police Station, the alleged gunman and the five others were arrested at different locations in Mandaue City and Danao City.
The alleged gunman, however, denied any involvement in the shooting during the interview with police.
Seized during the arrests were a .357 caliber revolver loaded with five rounds of live ammunition and a .38 caliber revolver loaded with three live ammunition.
An investigation is also being conducted to determine the gunman’s possible participation in the series of shooting incidents not only in Mandaue City but also in neighboring cities and municipalities.
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The six suspects are now detained at the Canduman Police Station pending the filing of appropriate charges against them.
They will likely be facing charges of frustrated murder.
The Canduman Police Station said that a personal grudge could be the motive behind the shooting after it was found out that the victim and one of the suspects allegedly had a fight before.
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