Wharf shooting spree kills elderly

The shooting incident took place just about 15 meters away from a combined police and military checkpoint established at the entrance of the wharf

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Authorities here are conducting hot pursuit operations against an alleged gunman who entered a private wharf in Baliwasan Seaside here and went on a shooting spree which killed an elderly man while wounding three others.

Zamboanga City Central Police Station 11 Investigator P/ Master Sargent Melvin Y. Abil on Monday disclosed that an armed man riding a black single motorcycle and wearing full face helmet entered the premises of Taha wharf in Baliwasan Seaside and opened fired at a group of people inside at 6:20 a.m. on Sunday.

The shooting incident took place just about 15 meters away from a combined police and military checkpoint established at the entrance of the wharf.

However, personnel manning the checkpoint claimed they had not heard any burst of gunfire and had not seen the culprit.

Killed on the spot was a certain Felix, 60, a resident of Barangay La Paz here. He sustained a single bullet wound on his bicep and died on the spot.

Those injured were identified as Albasar Abdul Amiril, Mohammad Taha Pañolera Saddalani and Sarah Mae Pañolera Saddalani, all residents of Baliwasan Seaside here.

They were all rushed to the Ciudad Medical Hospital in this city for immediate medical attention.

According to Abil, the victims were standing and talking with each other near the main gate of Taha wharf when the suspect stopped his motorcycle near the victims and opened fired at the victims hitting them on the different parts of their bodies.

The suspect immediately fled on board his motorcycle to the direction of Barangay Baliwasan Grande.