Cop killed, 3 hurt in Sultan Kudarat shooting

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COTABATO CITY — A police intelligence officer was killed while three persons were wounded after two unidentified gunmen shot them while they were sitting at a small store in Lebak town, Sultan Kudarat province on Monday night.

Colonel Bernard Lao, Sultan Kudarat police director, identified the victim as Staff Master Sgt. Louie Noble, who was assigned to the Lebak municipal police office.

Lao said Noble was conducting surveillance in the town’s amusement park in Barangay Poblacion 1 together with other civilian agents when they were attacked past 11 p.m.

Noble suffered a gunshot wound in the head and body.

The three other victims were Cresensiano Sia, 33; Ronaldo Fernando, 32; and Christian Pedro, 24.

Cresensiano sustained a gunshot wound on his left ankle, while Fernando was hit on his right biceps. Pedro was wounded on his back.

Police scene-of-the-crime operatives recovered 10 empty shells for caliber .45 and caliber .40 pistols.

Pursuit operation against the suspects is ongoing.

Initial police investigation revealed that the attack could be work-related.