Attacker, girl killed in gun rampage in General Santos City

COTABATO CITY — A man who fired a pistol indiscriminately was killed in a gunfight with responding policemen on Saturday, April 18, in Barangay Labangal, General Santos City, an incident that also left a 12-year-old girl dead in the crossfire.

Barangay officials and investigators from the General Santos City Police Office said the 43-year-old Ryan Mantikayan Sangbaan first caused trouble in Purok Pandian, Barangay Labangal, by indiscriminately firing a .45-caliber Taurus pistol, causing panic among residents in nearby houses.

He reportedly opened fire at responding policemen who arrived to pacify him, triggering a gunfight that resulted in his death.

Police investigators said Sangbaan also shot a 12-year-old girl near his location, hitting her in the upper torso.

The grade school student was declared dead on arrival at a hospital where policemen and barangay emergency responders brought her for treatment.

Residents of Purok Pandian said Sangbaan had been restless and appeared agitated days before the incident.

Police officers immediately recovered Sangbaan’s pistol, which was found beside his body.