Man shot dead in La Paz; neighbor hit by stray bullet

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 33-year-old man died after he was repeatedly shot early morning of Oct. 8 in front of his house in La Paz, Iloilo City.

Police identified the victim as a certain Joemarie, 33, of Barangay Mc Arthur, La Paz.

Joemarie was standing in front of their house when 20-year-old “Bunso,” a resident of Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz, shot him at around 2:15 a.m.

Joemarie was hit on the left side of his chest, chin and left leg.

A certain Mitchelle, 38, who also passed by the area during the shooting episode, was hit on his upper right arm.

Bunso immediately boarded a tricycle and fled in an unknown direction. He remains at large.

The two victims were taken to West Visayas State University Medical Center. But Joemarie was declared dead on arrival.

During the hot pursuit operation, police recovered the suspect’s getaway tricycle in front of their house in Nabitasan village.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Greg Matutino, Iloilo City Police Station 2 chief, said a misunderstanding over an alleged illegal drug transaction may have triggered the incident.

The night prior to the incident, the two were seen together. Colleagues claimed they were friends but did not know what drove Bunso to kill Joemarie.

Police investigators said the suspect could have used a caliber .38 revolver in killing the victim.