Drive-by shootings again: One dead, 2 hurt in three incidents

CEBU, Philippines - A 14-year-old boy was killed while two other teenagers were injured in three separate drive-by shooting incidents early yesterday morning in Cebu City.

This latest incident came days after the police blamed Michael Reyes, who was killed in an ambush on Monday last week, as the perpetrator of two recent drive-by shootings.

Police identified the fatality as Anthony Gabunada, a resident of Barangay Guadalupe where the second shooting incident occurred at around 12:50 a.m.

Another 14-year-old boy was injured, moments before Gabunada was shot in the same area.

Mark Joel Doble, 19 years old, was also injured barely two hours after the first incident when car-riding men also fired at him in Barangay Carreta.

Witnesses said that the gunmen were on board a gray sedan with plate numbers. The vehicle matched the description of the car used in two drive-by shootings last February 4.

Doble, a house helper and a resident of Barangay Tinago, admitted to be a member of the notorious gang called Crips. 

The two 14-year-old victims are also believed to be gang members.

Shot at eskina Banawa

In the first incident, the 14-year-old victim, who survived the shooting, was with his friends and fellow “rappers” at corner Duterte St. and V. Rama Avenue about to board a passenger jeepney for Banawa when the car slowly passed by.

The group was on their way to a benefit dance in Banawa. When the car passed, one of the persons onboard opened fire at the youngsters before speeding off towards Duterte St.

Gabunada, who was having drinks with another group of friends some 100 meters away, was also about to get on another jeepney when the shooting happened.

Homicide Section Chief Jul Mohammad Jamiri said both victims are also Crips gang members.

The first victim was hit on the upper portion of his chest with the bullet exiting on his back, while Gabunada was hit on his left armpit and left side of the body.

The first victim was taken to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center while Gabunada was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center.

Homicide Section personnel were responding to the second shooting incident in sitio Ponce 2, Barangay Carreta at 3:30 am when they learned that Gabunada succumbed to the gunshot wounds. Police recovered four empty caliber .45 shells from the crime scene.

Incident in Carreta

Doble alleged that he was with fellow Crips gang members hanging out along the road when the sedan passed them and a gun was fired.

The victim was hit on the right part of his neck and on his left buttock.

He was rushed to CCMC while the assailants sped off towards the North Reclamation Area. Police were not able to recover any physical evidence from the crime scene because it rained right after the incident.

Suspects

Jamiri told The FREEMAN that they have already identified two people involved in yesterday and in the Feb. 4 shooting incidents. He said one of the suspects was the driver and the other one the shooter.

“More than 20 names ang migawas na posibleng involved sa shootings and during the process of elimination, duha ang migawas na pinaka-closely involved,” (More than 20 names came out as possibly involved in the shooting and during the process of elimination, two came out as the most closely involved) Jamiri said, citing both circumstantial evidence and descriptions from witnesses.

He further said that they are now closely monitoring with other police units outside Cebu City since the suspects are not residents here.

Jamiri said it appears that the suspects have ill intentions against gang members particularly members of Crips and Bloods.

“Di ta makaingon na trip ra kay puro man gyud Crips ug Bloods gang members ang ilang target. It’s somewhat naa sila’y kainit or kalagot ani nila,” (We cannot say that this is just a trip since all victims are members of the Crips and Bloods gang. It is somewhat that they have grudge against them) he said, adding that this is not alarming to the public.

Jamiri said that even though Michael Reyes, the recently slain thief who was once suspected to be responsible of these shooting incidents, is already dead, the police are still not discounting the possibility the suspects could still be linked to him.

Last Feb. 4, a 17-year-old boy and his companion were wounded at V. Rama St., Barangay Guadalupe. A 24-year-old man, who was drinking in the area, was hit thrice. Five minutes later, a 16-year-old boy, who claimed to be a gang member, was also shot several times in Katipunan St., Sitio Kalyohan, Barangay Labangon. Witnesses told police investigators the assailants were on board a dark gray sedan. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)