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.