16-year-old boy in Pampanga mall shooting now also dead

MANILA, Philippines—The 16-year-old boy who was allegedly shot inside a mall in Pampanga on Tuesday by his 13-year-old companion has also died, according to television reports on Wednesday night.

The younger boy, who allegedly shot himself after shooting his companion, was earlier declared dead by doctors at the San Fernandino Hospital. His kidneys and cornea were donated by his family to the National Kidney Institute and the Eye Bank, respectively.

Police reported finding a suicide note in the younger boy’s pocket, suggesting that a “lovers’ quarrel” had led to the shooting.

The younger boy, in a handmade birthday card found in his pocket, said he met his friend last May through the Facebook social networking site.

The relationship was not known to either boy’s parents, said Superintendent Wilson Santos, Mexico town police chief.

According Santos,  the father of the younger boy denied owning the .22 cal. gun used in the shooting.

Following the shooting, the police have recommended that guards employed by SM City Pampanga should undergo refresher courses in security measures.

The mall shooting also prompted Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan of neighboring Angeles City to order police officials to conduct seminars for all security agencies to prevent a similar incident in their city.

SM officials did not reply to inquiries if there was a reduction in the number of shoppers on Wednesday. But regulars at the mall’s coffee bars observed that fewer people came or else they avoided the area where the shooting occurred.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on Wednesday called on the management and security agencies of shopping malls to be stricter in enforcing security.

“It’s a concern for the public that we see security personnel frisking us and it turns out guns are still able to enter the mall premises,” he said.

“We allow ourselves to be frisked so there’s a certain expectation that your security level is high. It turns out it’s not,” he said. With Tonette Orejas and Norman Bordadora

Originally posted at 12:21 am | Thursday, September 22, 2011