Tricycle driver dies, 3 hurt in Hinigaran shooting

June 5, 2022 by No Comments

A TRICYCLE driver was killed while three bystanders were hurt in a shooting incident along the busy street of Lopez Jaena in Barangay 1, Hinigaran town, Negros Occidental around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 4, 2022.Killed was Leonardo Espinosa, 44, of the barangay’s Sitio Pantalan Da-an, who succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, Hinigaran police chief Captain Ryan Villasario said.Espinosa died upon arrival at the Hinigaran Emergency Clinic, where other other victims Crismart Patalagsa, 19, of Barangay IV, Joyfaith Nonifara, 41, of Barangay II and Mary Grace Gratunes, 48 of Barangay Gargato in the town were rushed by Hinigaran Rescue Personnel.The other victims are now recuperating while Espinosa’s passenger, whose name he did not disclose, was not hurt in the incident.Investigation showed that the lone suspect who was riding a Mio motorcycle passed by Espinosa’s tricycle while it was traversing the road and opened fire at him.While Espinosa was already crawling on the pavement, the suspect alighted from his motorcycle and shot him again twice, a witness told Sunstar Bacolod, who added that they heard at least ten gunshots.The witness claimed that the suspect immediately fled from the crime scene going south of the town proper.Admitting that they do not have a person or persons of interest yet, Villasario said they are still investigating the case and looking into the possibility that grudge could have caused the heinous crime.The police official said that many saw the incident but none of them could clearly describe the suspect, whom he said was wearing a facemask.Some eleven fired cartridge cases and a fired bullet of what is believed to be that of a .45 caliber pistol were recovered from the scene.