1 killed, 2 others wounded in two shootings

CEBU, Philippines - A woman was killed by a stray bullet allegedly fired by members of Crips gang in barangay Carreta while two men landed in the hospital after they were shot by alleged members of the notorious gang in barangay Inayawan.

Miriam Tomasa Fortuna, 37, native of Lowac, Argao, was found dead at 6am yesterday inside her house in sitio Mahayahay, barangay Carreta near where alleged members of Crips allegedly fired shots indiscriminately two hours earlier.

Fortuna’s nine-year-old nephew told authorities that he found his aunt lifeless when he went into her room, blood oozing from the wound on her jaw where the bullet had hit. He then informed her sister Yvonne Orbita who called police for assistance. 

A neighbor of the victim, a 16-year-old boy, also told the police that around 4am earlier, he was sleeping inside a jeepney with a friend when a group of youngsters arrived and woke them up by hitting their heads with their knuckles. The group was reportedly looking for a certain Bernard who is a member of the rival group Bloods.

They reportedly told the group the location of Bernard’s house, but when they failed to find him there, they reportedly went back, pulled out their guns, and opened fire at different directions.

SPO1 Jay Yballe of Cebu City Police Office-Homicide Section said they recovered four empty shells of .99 mm from the crime scene.

A bullet hole was seen on the galvanized iron wall on the front side of the victim’s house, which according to Yballe, was just a few meters away from where the suspects were positioned.

Fortuna’s remains were taken to the Cosmopolitan Memorial Chapels in Junquera Street for post mortem examination.

Meanwhile, two men who are also allegedly members of Crips, shot a certain Jaypee Arisgado, 20, and a certain Jojo Maglinte, 18, in barangay Inayawan past midnight yesterday.

The victims were reportedly walking along White Road with six friends-four male and two female, when the suspects approached them and confronted the girls why they joined Bloods. The girls were reportedly recruited by Crips first, but chose to join Bloods.

When the girls ignored the suspects, the suspects opened fire and shot Arisgado and Maglinte several times. Arisgado was hit on his left forearm while Maglinte was hit on his abdomen. They were rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center while the suspects managed to flee. — Niña G. Sumacot/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)