A 58-year-old laborer was shot dead by an unidentified gunman while repairing his motorcycle outside his home in Purok 6, Barangay Paitan in the municipality of Quezon, Bukidnon on Monday morning, March 9.
Police identified the victim as Jose, a married resident of the area. He sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the left chest during the attack.
According to initial investigation by the Philippine National Police (PNP), the victim was fixing his motorcycle in front of his house at around 9:00 to 9:10 a.m. when an unidentified male suspect suddenly approached him.
The suspect, described as wearing a black jacket and black jogging pants, reportedly pulled out an undetermined firearm and fired three shots at the victim. One of the bullets struck the victim in the left side of the chest, causing critical injuries.
Responding police officers rushed the victim to the Quezon Medical Infirmary for emergency treatment. However, the attending physician declared him dead on arrival due to the gunshot wound he sustained.
Following the shooting, the suspect quickly fled the scene and escaped toward Barangay Catumbalon in the nearby city of Valencia City, Bukidnon.
Crime scene investigators recovered three spent shell casings believed to be from a .45 caliber firearm at the site of the attack.
Authorities have launched an intensive investigation to determine the identity of the gunman and the motive behind the killing. The Quezon Municipal Police Station has also established checkpoints and initiated a hot pursuit operation in coordination with neighboring police units in an effort to track down and arrest the suspect.
Police have urged residents who may have witnessed the incident or who have information that could help identify the assailant to immediately coordinate with authorities as the investigation continues.