Man slain, another hurt in gun attack

A STILL unidentified group shot young men sleeping in a shack at Zone 8, Lower Bulua, this city around 10:30 pm on Monday, leaving one dead and another badly hurt.

Chief Insp. Gil Agpawa, Bulua police head, identified the fatality as Reynaldo Nolasco, 21, a.k.a. Kulot. Agpawa identified the wounded as Gilbert Balabat, 21.

According to the preliminary investigation, Nolasco succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds to the head and Balabat suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his buttocks and some bullets grazed his left cheek.

Police said both were rushed to the JR Borja General Hospital. There, Nolasco was declared dead on arrival.

For his part, Majid Fajad, 19, a friend who was with Nolasco and Balabat during the incident, said earlier that day they had a drinking spree by the sea wall in Lower Bulua.

When they were sleeping, Fajad said, a figure suddenly peered through the window of their shack and started firing.

“Grasya ra gihapon nga wala ko maigo, patay na unta ko karon, pero naghadyong hadyong ang bala sa akong dagway,”  Fajad said.

He added that he didn’t see the face of the assailant since it was silhouetted from the window.

Fajad said Nolasco figured in a brawl with a certain Ransil Estrada at the beach at 5 pm, Monday. He said Nolasco was trying to stop a fight but was punched by Estrada in the process.

Fajad said Nolasco threw a bottle at Estrada. The fight, Fajad added, quickly turned into a full-scale brawl between the groups of Nolasco and Estrada.

Nolasco’s remains were brought to Bollozos Funeral Homes while Balabat is still recuperating at the city hospital.

Police recovered seven spent bullets from caliber .45 and 9mm pistols at the crime scene.

Agpawa said they are still facing a black wall but hinted there were indications it was carried out by more than one person. (nitz arancon)