American killed inside his P’que coffee shop

An American businessman was shot dead in the coffee shop he owned at his Parañaque City residence Tuesday morning.

Investigators have yet to determine the motive behind the killing of Jeff Watt, 62, who was shot at point-blank range by a man who barged into the shop around 7:51 a.m. at the corner of Swaziland and Surinam streets inside Better Living Subdivision.

Parañaque chief of police Senior Supt. Andrei Felix said they had ruled out robbery since “nothing was taken or touched” inside the establishment during the shooting.

Watt and a female helper were opening the shop for the day’s operations when an armed man entered and approached the American, who was then seated. The intruder shot Watt twice in the head with a .45-cal. pistol, Felix said.

As the helper screamed, the gunman fled by joining a cohort who was waiting outside on a motorcycle that had no license plate.

Watt was pronounced dead at Parañaque Doctor’s Hospital. Watt left behind his Filipino wife and their two children.

The victim’s wife told investigators that she was not aware of any enemies her husband may have had, Felix added.

Felix said the establishment had a security camera but the footage that morning still had to be reviewed and cleaned by experts. Watt’s cell phone was also sent to Camp Crame to be checked for any text message that could help establish the motive or the identity of those behind the killing.