Rape-slay suspect shot dead inside Davao jail

DAVAO CITY — A man suspected of raping and killing a 16-year-old girl was shot dead by the police after allegedly attempting to grab the gun of one of his police escorts inside a jail here on Thursday morning.

Senior Insp. Teresita Gaspan, Davao City Police Office spokesperson, said James Narte, 35, of Libby Road, Bago Gallera village, died upon arrival at a local hospital due to gunshot wounds, following the shooting incident at the fingerprinting and traffic section of Talomo Police Station in Talomo district around 7:20 a.m.

Narte was arrested on Saturday after the body of a girl who went out to buy cellphone load in at a store in the neighborhood was reported missing.

The victim, a junior high school student, was found to have head wounds believed to be caused by a blunt object, her pants and underwear pulled down to her knees.

She was wrapped with a blue plastic bag used by banana plantations behind an abandoned house in the village.

Gaspan said Narte was arrested after a witness identified him as the last person seen with the victim. /ee