Motorcycle theft suspect killed

A SUSPECTED motorcycle thief was killed while his companion escaped after a shootout with policemen who were trying to arrest them in Las Piñas on Thursday.

A report reaching the Las Piñas police headquarters said that one of the suspects—who has yet to be identified—died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds around 12:30 a.m.

Earlier, he and a companion traded shots with policemen who were trying to arrest them on C5 Road Extension for allegedly stealing at gunpoint a red Euro Sports 150 motorcycle owned by Jobert Cruz.

Chief Insp. Rey Viloria, the city’s police information officer, said that the lawmen were patrolling the area when they were alerted to the theft of the motorcycle based on a complaint filed by Cruz.

Cruz told the police that he  had just parked his motorcycle at the Las Villas Condominium on Quirino Avenue, Pulang Lupa 1 when two men riding on a motorcycle pointed a gun at him and took his vehicle.

“Instead of stopping, the suspect [the fatality] opened fire at the responding police officers, prompting them to retaliate,” Viloria said, adding that the suspect’s companion fled.  Kristine Felisse Mangunay