Cops trace car used by Ermita road rage shooter

MANILA, Philippines - Police will summon for investigation the registered owner of the car used by an unidentified man who shot dead a seafarer following a traffic altercation in Ermita, Manila Wednesday morning, an official said yesterday.

According to Land Transportation Office records, Milagros Alvarez owns a Mitsubishi Galant (UEC-374), which witnesses said the gunman drove after shooting Danilo Gray, 34, in the chest. Gray died while undergoing treatment at the Philippine General Hospital.

Police said Gray was driving his Toyota Vios (VDZ-443) when his vehicle was rear-ended by another car at the corner of M.H. del Pilar and Salas streets in Ermita.

Gray and his three companions reportedly alighted from his car, while the four passengers of the other vehicle also got off and the two groups figured in a heated altercation.

Gray’s companion, Armei Pascual, tried to take photos of the damage to their vehicle but the driver of the other vehicle swatted Pascual’s hand, causing the camera to fall on the ground. At the same time, the driver went to his vehicle and got a gun. After introducing himself as a policeman, the driver shot Gray. The gunman and his companions then drove off.

Witnesses described the gunman as a muscular man who stood at least 5’10” tall, aged between 35 and 40 years old, and with close-cropped hair.

Responding policemen recovered a shell from a .45 caliber pistol at the scene of the crime.

Alvarez told police that she had already sold her car but refused to identify the buyer, according to homicide investigator Senior Inspector Joey de Ocampo.