Woman robbed, shot dead in front of Quezon City church

MANILA, Philippines—A woman was shot in the head and killed by a snatcher in front of a church after she refused to yield her bag in Quezon City Saturday afternoon, a police report said.

Senior Police Officer 1 Gregorio Maramag of the Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Group identified the victim as Lorna Barlan, estimated to be between 50 and 57 years old.

Maramag said Barlan died on the spot.

The policeman said the victim was standing in front of St. Joseph Church, near the LRT station along Aurora Boulevard in Barangay (village) Bagumbayan, at around 5:20 p.m. when a lone snatcher grabbed her bag.

The old woman, witnesses said, fought off the snatcher and refused to let go of her bag.

The snatcher then pulled a gun and fired at the victim several times. The snatcher took the victim’s bag, crossed the street and rode on a motorcycle driven by another man.

Maramag said the victim sustained a gunshot wound to the right temple, with the bullet exiting the back of her head.

Recovered from the crime scene were bullets of a .45-caliber pistol.

The policeman added that no one was able to get the plate number of the snatcher’s motorcycle.