Suspected carjacker killed in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines - A suspected carjacker was killed after the man that his group was supposed to victimize in Quezon City fought off and shot at them while they were fleeing.

Suspect Redentor Fajardo, 39, of Baliuag, Bulacan, was identified through his driver’s license and papers for the .9mm pistol that he was carrying. He died on the spot after he was shot by vehicle owner Jeffrey Atanacio at past 10 p.m. on Monday.

Fajardo’s two companions managed to escape, but left behind the beige Ford Explorer (XPC-817) that they attempted to carjack from Atanacio.

Superintendent Lino Banaag, head of the Quezon City Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said the carjack attempt happened outside Atanacio’s house in Barangay St. Peter on Monday night.

Atanacio, a 38-year-old businessman, had just arrived home with his two children and a female friend on board the sports utility vehicle. When he got off the SUV and was about to open the gates of the garage, two of the suspects suddenly appeared and pointed their handguns at him.

At gunpoint, the two suspects ordered those still inside the vehicle to get off before they sped off, Banaag said. However, it was unknown to the suspects that Atanacio’s friend had picked up the businessman’s clutch bag from inside the vehicle that also contained his .40 caliber handgun.

As the vehicle was approaching the corner of the street, Atanacio shot at the suspects, hitting Fajardo who was driving the SUV. The vehicle crashed into the pavement and hit a street post. The other suspect at the passenger seat immediately alighted from the SUV and opened fire but failed to hit Atanacio. The assailant then boarded a waiting white Toyota Fortuner with unknown license plates and sped off.

Apart from the slain suspect’s gun, police also recovered from Fajardo two cellular phones and a pair of two-way radio.        – Reinir Padua