Teener dies in two Danao shootings; assailants flee

A 16-year-old out-of-school boy, who had been driving a trisikad for a living, was shot to death at barangay Ginacot in Danao City Friday night after another man was shot then beaten up at the city's barangay Dunggoan earlier in the day.

City policeman SPO1 Jose Relampagos said the slain victim was Jaime Bitoon Jr, and the other victim in a separate shooting incident was 26-year-old Edil Casas Ilagan. In both instances, the assailants were able to escape, said the policeman.

Investigator SPO3 Glenn Manulat reported that Bitoon was walking alone for home from a day's work when, in a poorly lit portion of Ginacot, an unidentified man came from behind and shot the teenager once in the back.

Barangay residents, on hearing the gunshot, went out to verify and found the Bitoon sprawled on the ground and bleeding. They took him immediately to Danao District Hospital but he failed to reach there alive.

The police are still investigating further to find the gunman and the motive of the killing.

Earlier that night in a separate incident, Ilagan was with his companions walking home from a dance when a group of men blocked their way, and a certain Milo Reyes of barangay Guinsay allegedly shot Ilagan once on the right foot.

Reyes' companions then took turns in beating up Ilagan and the group left him with severe injuries in the face. The victim's companions quickly took him to the Danao District Hospital, Relampagos said. - Edwin Ian Melecio