GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A 63-year-old woman was gunned down inside her home in Barangay Conel, General Santos City, on the very day she was supposed to celebrate her birthday.
The victim was identified as Carmela Del Rita, a barangay worker and resident of Purok Guadalupe, Conel. She was reportedly asleep when an unidentified assailant entered her house and shot her around midnight on Sunday, August 24, 2025.
According to relatives and barangay officials, the tragic killing happened on what would have been Del Rita’s 64th birthday, turning what should have been a day of celebration into grief for her family and the community.
Investigators from the General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO), in coordination with barangay officials, are conducting a thorough probe into the incident. Authorities said the gunman quickly fled after the attack, leaving no immediate trace.
Police have yet to determine the motive behind the shooting, while the community has expressed shock over the brutal killing of a woman described as hardworking and dedicated to her duties in the barangay.
Authorities assured the public that efforts are underway to bring the perpetrator to justice and called on possible witnesses to come forward with any information that may aid the investigation.