Savage youths beat up barker

Some 30 youths showed no mercy for a hapless jeepney barker and beat him to a pulp yesterday morning in Caloocna City. As he lay dying, one among the lynchers finished him off with a shot in the body.

Police identified the victim as Renato Espinosa, 31, of Fatima Street, Wawa, Balagtas, Bulacan. He took severe head and body injuries from the mauling and also sustained a gunshot wound in the body.

Five of the mob were arrested, all from Grace Park, Caloocan.

PO3 Alberto Eustaquio, officer on case, said the incident happened at around 2 a.m. on Benin street, EDSA, Caloocan City.

Police gathered that the victim was calling passengers when the suspects, most of whom had taken one drink too many, were roughhousing in the street. The victim allegedly scolded the suspects for creating so much noise at this unholy hour.

This did not sit well with the drunken suspects, who took turns in banging the hell out of the victim. As the victim crumpled to the ground, two shots rang out. At this point, the group scampered in different directions. – Jerry Botial