Girl shot dead after hearing Mass in Valenzuela

It was a grim Christmas for three young churchgoers in Valenzuela City as they were waylaid by three other youngsters while walking home after hearing midnight Mass on Saturday, killing one of them.

Lankey Columbres, 18, a college student and a resident of Batimana compound, Barangay Marulas, Valenzuela City, succumbed to a bullet wound in the nape while being treated in a hospital.

Columbres’ two other companions — Raymond Maguiddang, 14, a resident of 11B-8, Gumamela st., Barangay Marulas; and Gessie de los Santos, 17, of 53 Urruria st. in Barangay Gen. T. de Leon — are now confined at the Fatima Hospital and Valenzuela General Hospital, respectively, due to multiple gunshot wounds in the body, police said.

According to SPO1 Angeles Miranda, the victims were walking home at around 12:15 a.m. along Constantino Drive corner P. Simon st. in Barangay Marulas after hearing Mass when attacked by at least three young suspects identified only as Ernesto, Jessie and Tisoy.

Miranda said that as Columbres and her two companions passed by the suspects’ group, one of the boys threw an improvised explosive at the victims.

Another suspect, armed with a handgun, fired successive shots at the victims, fatally hitting Columbres in the nape while Maguiddang and De los Santos were wounded.

Columbres later died while being treated at the Fatima Hospital.

Police probers led by Senior Inspector Arce Yam-oc, in a follow-up investigation, were able to identify the suspects but failed to arrest them.

Police were not immediately able to establish the suspects’ motive in the attack. Charges of murder and frustrated murder are now being readied against the suspects.