Guard shoots, kills parents of woman he woos, then kills self

Crime scene investigation (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/EDWIN BACASMAS)

SAN PEDRO CITY — A security guard at a courthouse in Nagcarlan town in Laguna province shot and killed the parents of the woman he had been courting before taking his own life, police said on Monday.

PO3 Juanito dela Torre, case investigator at the Nagcarlan police, said the suspect, Richard Monfero, 34, left his post at the municipal trial court in Nagcarlan at 5 p.m. Sunday to see Francis Anne Doria, a student, whose house was across the court building.

Monfero had been courting Doria, 18, for over a year but the woman never reciprocated his affection, Dela Torre said.

“[Monfero] would throw chocolates or flowers for the woman over [the family’s] gate. There was one time he threw over some money (amount unknown),” he said.

Dela Torre, quoting the victims’ relatives, said Doria just did not like him. This apparently did not sit well with Monfero.

Monfero went to the victim’s house on Sunday and started firing his gun. Doria’s mother, Lorna, 52, who was tending their sari-sari (variety) store, was hit first.

Dela Torre said Doria’s father, Feliciano, 55, stepped out holding a knife but he, too, was shot and killed by Monfero.

Doria, who was inside the house when the shooting happened, was hit in the arm by a stray bullet.

Police said Monfero refused to surrender to policemen.

“The police had to shoot him in the leg. As they were about to approach him, Monfero shot himself in the chin,” Dela Torre said.

Monfero died while being taken to a hospital.  SFM/rga