Pawnshop robbery suspect dies in shooting
Police yesterday shot dead one of the suspects tagged in the robbery and murder of an M. Lhuillier pawnshop teller in Toledo City, western Cebu.
Noel Anscar Zamora was shot in the right leg before he could aim his .45 pistol at a police agent during a buy-bust operation.
Zamora was linked to the P2.5-million daylight robbery of an M. Lhuillier pawnshop teller last Dec. 9.
The arrest of two suspects Pableto “Pabling” Napoles and Tristan Purisima last Dec. 10 led authorities to Zamora.
Zamora was reportedly peddling drugs in sitio Luray 1, Poblacion in Toledo City.
Police said Zamora was about to transact a sale when he realized the buyer was a police agent and drew his .45 pistol.
PO3 Reynaldo Solante shot him before the suspect could fire his gun.
Solante said Zamora fell on the ground but his cohort managed to escape.
Zamora was brought to the Toledo City Hospital but died in the emergency room from loss of blood.
Police said they recovered two sachets of suspected shabu, one .45 pistol, one magazine clip, one a cell phone, a black jacket and four ball caps from Zamora.
PO3 Solante said Zamora’s background check showed that he was involved in robberies for more than two years in Toledo City.
“Zamora learned to rob in Ozamiz City,” Solante said.
Police said Zamora and his cohorts were guns-for-hire.
Zamora was a “backup” for two other robbers in the pawnshop heist.
