Student shot dead, 2 others wounded

CEBU, Philippines - An 18-year-old student of a night high school in Talisay City died while a juvenile and a 19-year-old man were injured in a shooting incident yesterday dawn in sitio Nonoc, barangay Tabunok, Talisay City.

Police identified the casualty as Mark Saavedra, 18, a resident of sitio Mahayag, San Isidro of the same city.

Saavedra was hit in the chest, the bullet exiting at his back. He also sustained a gunshot wound on the right part of his back, the bullet exited at the left part of his body. He died on the spot.

The second victim was a, 15-year-old boy from Mahayag, San Isidro, who sustained a gunshot wound in his back.

As of press time, he was being treated at the state-run Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City. The third victim Carlo Cartalla, 19, a resident of sitio Tiago, San Isidro meanwhile sustained a gunshot wound on his hip and refused to be taken to the hospital for treatment.

Based on the investigation of the Talisay City Police, the three went to sitio Nonoc after attending their night classes.

They were reportedly sitting in a corner near a basketball court talking with their other friends when five unidentified young men walked by.

It was about three minutes later, when four of these five young men came back but sensing trouble, the first group moved out of the place and walked to nearby sitio Tiago. Reportedly, the four youngster followed them which prompted Saavedra and one of his friends named Fredie Impales to confront the four and ask why they keep on following them.

During the confrontation, two of the four youngsters allegedly took their handguns and without a word started firing at Saavedra's group.

Police are now looking at the angle that the motive of the crime was jealousy as reportedly the suspects' friends Marifel Sagang and Gretchen Morcilla were at that time with Saavedra's group.

On the other hand, the authorities are also looking into the possibility that the shooting was only for thrills especially that one of the victims was a reported member of a fraternity group. — THE FREEMAN