Stroke survivor repeatedly shot while tending store

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Gunfire roused residents of Barangay San Nicolas, Calinog, Iloilo early evening of Dec. 20.

When they checked, they saw a motorcycle speeding away from the store of Ricardo Caro, 59.

Family members then found Caro slumped on the floor with two gunshot wounds on his chest, one on the back of his right palm and another on his left thigh.

Major Myles Dieron, Calinog police chief, said they could not ascertain if the gunman had a companion.

Police assumed that the gunman alighted from a motorcycle and made his way to the store, which is located at the hilly portion, just by the roadside.

He pretended to be a customer and bought a bottle of soda.

But before Caro could hand over the bottle, the suspect shot him at close range.

Dieron noted visible powder burns on the victim’s hand.

Police investigators have yet to establish a motive behind the killing.

Caro’s wife and daughter claimed that the victim had no known enemies.

He was a stroke survivor and had a hard time walking after he got paralyzed.

Recovered from the scene were five fired cartridge cases and a fired bullet of caliber .45 ammunition.