Christmas Day shooting kills woman, hurts son

CEBU, Philippines - An unidentified man shot and killed a woman inside her home on Christmas Day in sitio Riverside, Barangay Lawaan II, Talisay City but her 20-year-old son, the alleged target, is alive but in critical condition.

Carlota Caña, 38, and her son Christian Caña, 20, who ekes out a living as a car washer were sleeping at the time of the crime.

Christian sustained two gunshot wounds on the abdomen, two gunshot wounds on his left arm, and a gunshot wound on the head.

A bullet went through Carlota’s left arm and lodged in her body.

She died on the way to the Talisay City District Hospital.

Her son was taken to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

Investigation showed the gunman entered the house at past 1:00 a.m. while the woman and her son were asleep.

Carlota awoke when the gunman started firing, and at that moment dashed out of the house, shouting for help.

But the gunman went after her and fired a shot.

Superintendent Resty Santos, officer-in-charge of Talisay City Police Station, told The Freeman the police have yet to establish the motive for the shooting. — Brenda D. Batuto