GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A suspected thief was killed after he allegedly attempted to seize a police officer’s service firearm while being arrested in connection with the theft of fighting roosters in Purok 1, Barangay Ligaya, General Santos City, in the early hours of July 28, 2026.
According to the General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO), personnel from Police Station 3 responded at around 2:11 a.m. after receiving a report of an ongoing theft involving prized cockfighting roosters in the area.
Upon arriving at the scene, responding officers reportedly encountered multiple suspects. One of them managed to flee aboard a motorcycle, while another escaped on foot, prompting police to pursue him.
Authorities successfully caught and apprehended the fleeing suspect. However, while officers were adjusting his handcuffs after he complained that they were too tight, the suspect allegedly became violent, resisted arrest, and attempted to wrest the service firearm from one of the arresting officers.
Police said a struggle ensued between the suspect and the officer. During the confrontation, the suspect allegedly pulled the trigger of the firearm while it was pointed toward the policeman, creating what authorities described as an imminent threat.
To prevent further danger, another responding police officer fired at the suspect, striking him.
The wounded suspect was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment but was declared dead before receiving medical care.
The identity of the deceased has yet to be established as of this writing.
Following the incident, police secured the crime scene and requested the assistance of the Regional Forensic Unit to conduct a thorough forensic examination and scene investigation.
Authorities have also launched follow-up operations to track down the remaining suspects who managed to escape during the operation.
The General Santos City Police Office said the investigation remains ongoing to establish the complete sequence of events surrounding both the alleged theft and the fatal encounter.
Police have yet to disclose the number of stolen fighting roosters or whether any of the stolen animals were recovered during the operation.
The incident is now under further investigation, including the standard review of the police use of force during the arrest operation.