Carpenter shot dead by mistake

Mistaken for a burglar, a 32-year-old carpenter installing a television antenna on the roof of his house, was shot dead without warning by a security guard yesterday morning in Caloocan City.

Victim Jose Tenepe, married, resident of Pechayan Phase 6, Area D, Camarin, Caloocan City died while being treated for a gunshot wound in the right side of the head at the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City.

A pursuit operation is being conducted for Jolito Sagan, married, employed by the A and T Security Agency and detailed at the Malayan Properties office, located just beside the victim’s house, the police said.

PO1 Allan Budios said the incident occurred at around 11:30 a.m. as the victim and a certain Joey Garsote were installing a television antenna on the victim’s rooftop.

Police said Sagan accosted the victim thinking they were attempting to rob the office he was guarding by getting in through the roof.

Meanwhile, a Fil-Chinese businesswoman was shot to death by a man believed to be a hired killer inside her lumber and hardware store yesterday in Caloocan City.

A store employee saw the victim, Erlinda Sy, 51, married, owner of the Esquire Lumber at 270 A. Mabini Street, Maypajo, slumped bloodied and lifeless in her chair in the store’s office shortly after the shooting, a police report said. Sy succumbed to at least three gunshot wound in the head.

Witnesses told probers that the gunman, posing as a customer, was seen leaving the store at around 1 p.m.

Police said the killer was apparently a professional, executing the "hit" with precision while no other person was in the store. Witnesses said they heard no gunshots leading the police to suspect that the gunman used a silencer to do the job. – Jerry Botial