Drive-by shooter guns down barber

A 37-year-old barber is believed to be the latest victim of drive-by shooting.

This after a lone gunman onboard a blue motorcycle shot to death the barber identified as Julito Peñonal along Duterte Street near the Verano Compound in Banawa, barangay Guadalupe the other night.

Investigation conducted by elements of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office revealed that Philippine National Police medico-legal officer Benjamin Lara was driving his car on his way home when he passed by the place and saw people running, prompting him to verify the commotion.

 Lara saw the body of Peñonal, said to be a native of Isabela, Negros Occidental but was temporarily residing in the area, with multiple gunshot wounds on his back, chest and right hand slumped on the pavement along the roadside.

A resident of the place, Junrel Dinglasa, had reportedly seen the shooting.

Dinglasa narrated that while he was standing by the roadside, he saw the victim walking.

Moments later, he saw the lone gunman onboard a motorcycle suddenly shoot the victim several times and sped towards barangay Labangon.

Responding personnel from the Scene of the Crime Operations-7 recovered five pieces of empty shells apparently of a caliber .45 and several of the victim’s belongings.

The incident was believed carried out by a drive-by shooter as police learned that the victim was never been involved in any altercation or trouble.

The body of the victim was then taken to the St. Francis Funeral Homes for autopsy.

The Homicide Section is conducting further investigation to identify the gunman and to establish the motive of the killing. — Princess Mondejar, CNU intern/MEEV