Teen student killed in Calatrava shooting over alleged debt

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A 17-year-old student was shot and killed in Barangay Refugio, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, on Thursday night, with police looking into whether an unpaid debt and personal grudge triggered the attack.

Police said they initially received a call for assistance about a reported vehicular accident.

However, doctors later found the victim had a gunshot wound on the right side of the head, with the bullet exiting at the back, which caused his death.

The victim, a resident of neighboring San Carlos City, reportedly owed the suspect an undetermined amount of money.

The suspect remains at large.

Police are also looking into why the victim was in Calatrava that day.

Investigators said the victim was shot with an unknown firearm along a dimly lit road away from houses.

While the debt angle is among the leads being considered, police said they are continuing the investigation to establish the motive and identify the gunman.