Suspect shot dead after grabbing QC cop’s gun

A MAN who was arrested on Friday night for killing a young girl was shot dead the following day after he allegedly grabbed the gun of his police escort.

Ruel Jabal, 21, was killed inside a police car on Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City while he was being brought to a hospital for a mandatory checkup.

Case investigator SPO1 Cristituto Zaldarriaga of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said Jabal was arrested after he attacked his neighbor at 11:40 p.m. on Friday on Cattleya Street, Barangay Bahay Toro in Project 8.

The victim, 12-year-old Percy de los Santos, died before she reached the hospital due to multiple stab wounds.

Police learned that the victim’s father had just arrived home that night and had given her money to buy food.

According to witnesses, while the girl was buying bread and soda at a nearby store, Jabal was spotted lurking nearby and looking at the victim.

He then approached her but the girl ran away in fear. Jabal, however, chased her and grabbed her by the hair.

The police said he pulled her down to the ground and smashed her face against the pavement. Still not content, he took out a knife and stabbed her six times.

The girl died before she could be treated at Veterans Memorial Medical Center while Jabal was quickly arrested by responding policemen.

At 3:10 a.m., Jabal was escorted by SPO1 Christian Bajen, PO3 Mario Palic and PO3 Roque Geraldez to Quezon City General Hospital for a checkup.

But on their way to the hospital, Jabal, who was in handcuffs, managed to grab the service firearm of Geraldez who was behind the wheel of the police car they were riding in.

Palic reacted quickly and took out his own firearm. He shot Jabal, hitting him in the right temple.

Insp. Elmer Monsalve, QCPD homicide section chief, said they were still investigating the policemen’s claims.