Man in pink jacket goes on shooting spree in QC village, kills 2

MANILA, Philippines – Two men were killed while two of their female relatives were injured after a man went on a shooting spree in a Quezon City neighborhood on Christmas Day.

Construction worker Jayson Yago Esmer, 21, and his uncle Esteban Calbario Esmer, 46, a carpenter, died while being treated at separate hospitals after the shooting in Barangay (village) Holy Spirit past midnight Monday.

Case investigator Police Officer 2 Rhic Roldan Pittong said the lone assailant was a slim-built man, armed with a gun and with a balaclava covering his face.

Some witnesses said the gunman wore a pink jacket.

The shooting happened in front of a house on Kasiyahan Street, where the Esmers and their relatives gathered to celebrate Christmas.

Also injured in the incident were Jayson’s 50-year-old mother Marilyn, and another relative, Monica Reyes, 15.

Pittong said they are still investigating the motive behind the shooting.

A relative told police that her family was celebrating outside the victim’s house when the assailant walked up to them.

He pulled out a gun and shot the two men while the two women were hit by stray bullets. The gunman then fled on foot.

Police recovered five 9 mm shells and one deformed slug from the crime scene.

The other family members who survived the attack rushed the wounded to two separate hospitals.

Jayson died at 12:15 a.m. upon reaching the Malvar General Hospital, and Esteban was pronounced dead at 2:27 a.m. at the East Avenue Medical Center.

Both men suffered several gunshot wounds.

Pittong said Marilyn was hit in the left foot and is still confined at the EAMC, and Monica was discharged after sustaining a gunshot wound to the left hip.