Cebu hotelier shot dead in Davao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A prominent hotelier-businessman based in Cebu City was shot and killed late Thursday inside his establishment here.

Richard King, 57, owner of the Crown Regency Group of Hotels, was having dinner with employees at the Vital C Health Products building when a lone gunman casually entered and shot the victim at close range.

King died on the spot due to a single gunshot wound to the head while the gunman fled on a motorcycle parked outside the building along Sobrecary Street.

Davao City police chief Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao Jr. said investigators are having a hard time with the case as the building had no CCTV cameras and no security guard was on duty when the killing occurred.

“We are facing a blank wall right now,” Danao said.

King arrived in Davao City to attend the graduation of consultants of his wellness program under Vital C Health Products, Inc.

Aside from the Vital C products, King also owns the Crown Regency Hotel along Cabaguio Avenue here.

King also headed the J. King & Sons Co. Inc., developer of Crown Regency, Club Ultima and the City Suites Ramos Tower in Cebu City.

King was also the founder and director of Boracay Multiple Properties Inc. that established the Crown Regency Boracay Resort.

Police are investigating the case as King was reportedly involved in several controversial cases in the past, and he was one of the prominent personalities in the Visayas.