Ex-soldier goes on rampage: 1 killed

A 56-year-old ex-military man was arrested after he allegedly shot dead a neighbor and critically wounded another during a shooting rampage yesterday morning in Caloocan City.

Suspect Rodolfo Garcia of ,17 L. Lupa street, Maypajo, Caloocan City, was apprehended by the police in a follow-up operation. The authorities seized from him a caliber .45 pistol he reportedly used in shooting his two neighbors.

At around 9:30 a.m. yesterday, victims Luisito Cruz, 46, and his cousin Florante Madrid, 38, both of 95 L. Lupa street in Maypajo, were walking near a neighborhood store when they were approached and fired upon by the suspect.

Cruz sustained multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of the body and died on the way to the nearby Ospital ng Caloocan.

Madrid, his cousin, was brought to Jose Reyes Memorial and Medical Center where he was declared in a very critical condition as of presstime.

It was learned that the night before the incident, the suspect mauled the victims’ nephew, identified as Bryan Orenza, for allegedly stoning Garcia’s house.

The incident was brought to the attention of their barangay leaders. However, the suspect and the victims allegedly engaged in an ugly verbal tussle while inside the barangay hall.

When they met again yesterday, the bloody incident occurred.

A follow-up operation led by Chief Inspector Nestor Dioso resulted in the immediate arrest of the suspect. –Pete Laude