1 dead, 21 hurt in shooting, grenade blast in Sultan Kudarat

ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat–A 15-year-old boy was killed, while 21 others were injured in a shooting and grenade-throwing incident in Lambayong town in Sultan Kudarat province on Wednesday evening.

Jerome Balaba, 15, was shot about 9 p.m. by a still unidentified gunman who barged into a debut party in Purok Liwliwa in Barangay Palumbe, Sultan Kudarat police director Senior Supt. Raul Supiter said.

Balaba, who was standing in front of the Manzano resident, where a birthday party was being held, questioned a man on a motorbike wearing a face mask and for acting suspiciously, Supiter said citing a report from the Lambayong police.

The man suddenly pulled out a cal. 45 pistol and shot Balaba, hitting him in different parts of his body. He died instantly.

Supiter said the gunman also pulled out a fragmentation grenade and tossed it in front of the Manzano residence, where party-goers were staying.

Twenty-one people, who were all party guests, were injured in the blast.

He said responding policemen rushed the victims to various hospitals in Lambayong and in nearby Tacurong City.

The motive and identity of the suspect were still being ascertained, Supiter said.