One dead, 3 hurt in Lapu shootings

One died and three others were injured in separate shooting incidents yesterday dawn and the other night in Lapu-Lapu City.

Unidentified assailants shot dead Christopher Muñez, 20, of sitio Ibabao, barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City, while he was having a date with his girlfriend in Purok Saging, Sunrise Village, barangay Gun-ob yesterday dawn.

The slug hit the right side of the victim's back and exited from his left chest. The slug also hit the left side of the body of his girlfriend identified as one Athena Ochea, 17.

Initial investigation conducted by PO1 William Jomoc, duty homicide investigator, revealed that the two were having a date near a swamp about two hundred meters away from Ochea's residence. While the two were talking, four unidentified men approached them. One of the men allegedly fired at Muñez pointblank.

Recovered from the crime scene were a slug believed to be of a 9mm cal. pistol, a black ball cap, and a pair of black slippers.

Meanwhile, Giovanni Vidal, 21, of Sangi, Pajo and Russel Mark Dignos, 19, of Humay-Humay Road, Gun-ob were allegedly shot several times by unidentified men near a hardware store along De la Cerna street, Humay-Humay Road, barangay Gun-ob. The five assailants were reportedly onboard a white multicab heading towards the old Mandaue-Mactan bridge.

Vidal was hit in the nape.

A stray bullet hit the arm of one Marciana Baguio, a 49-year-old vendor and a resident of the said place.

The victims were rushed to the Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital. Homicide personnel are now conducting an investigation to determine the motive behind the shootings. - Norvie S. Misa, Correspondent