BACOLOD City – A 48-year-old barber escaped unhurt after a man allegedly fired at him along Bonifacio Street in Barangay Zone 12, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday evening.
Police identified the victim only by the alias “Jeniri,” a resident of Barangay Zone 10, while the suspect, alias “Roy,” 34, a pedicab driver from Barangay Zone 11, was arrested less than two hours after the incident.
According to the Talisay Component City Police Station (CCPS), the shooting occurred at around 6:15 p.m. when the victim went to a tricycle terminal to look for his child’s cellular phone, which had allegedly been left inside a tricycle.
Police said the victim encountered the suspect, who allegedly glared at him and threatened to shoot him. Fearing for his safety, the victim returned to the barbershop where he worked and armed himself with a steel pipe for protection.
Before the victim could confront him, however, the suspect allegedly pulled an improvised firearm from his bag and fired a single shot.
The bullet missed the victim, who escaped without injuries.
The suspect fled by boarding a passing tricycle before alighting at the next block and escaping on foot.
Following a report made through the 911 emergency hotline, responding police officers and intelligence operatives launched a pursuit operation that resulted in the suspect’s arrest at about 8:03 p.m. the same day.
Police said the improvised firearm allegedly used in the shooting has yet to be recovered.
Authorities are conducting further investigation to determine the motive behind the shooting, while appropriate charges are being prepared against the suspect./PN
