A suspected member of a robbery group was killed Saturday by the Quezon City police while his four cohorts managed to escape after breaking into a fish dealer’s home, where they hogtied 10 people as they ransacked the place.
The businessman’s security guard was shot and wounded by the intruders before they broke in. In the ensuing encounter between the gang and the police, another security guard posted at a nearby bank and a teenage girl in a jeepney were wounded by stray bullets.
An initial investigation showed that the suspects forced their way into the residence of Cesar Sta. Ana on 18th Avenue, Barangay Socorro, around 10 a.m. The house also served as Sta. Ana’s office for his fish supply business.
The robbers first fired at security guard Ronald Cepriano, 29, wounding him in the head, according to Supt. Ramon Pranada, chief of the Quezon City Police District’s Cubao station.
Neighbors who heard the shot alerted the police, who arrived just as the robbers were about to leave. By then, the robbers had hogtied 10 people, including Sta. Ana’s family members and employees.
A shoot-out erupted in the open street, killing one of the suspects. The rest were able to flee in a black van that headed toward Boni Serrano Avenue.
Pranada said stray bullets hit Fred Mhar Pancho, a security guard posted at a Bank of Commerce branch; and a 16-year-old girl who was in a passenger jeepney.
Pancho, 28, remained critical at a hospital as of Saturday afternoon, while Cepriano and the girl were already declared in stable condition.
The slain male suspect remained unidentified. Recovered from his body were a .45-cal. pistol, three cell phones and P11,600 in cash.
The police have yet to complete an inventory of the items stolen from Sta. Ana’s house at press time.