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An unidentified gunman shot dead two local traders and seriously injured a passerby in a daring shooting incident in a crowded residential area here Monday evening.

Supt. Rolly Octavio, director for operations of the General Santos City Police Office, identified the fatalities as Reynaldo Villanueva and Eliezer Tan, both residents of Purok Villanueva in Barangay Calumpang here.

He said the victims, who were partners in a small fish trading venture, were reportedly unwinding in front of the Villanueva’s residence located along Rizal Avenue in Purok Villanueva at around 7 p.m. when they were waylaid by a motorcycle-riding gunman.

Octavio said the two victims, who both sustained single gunshot wounds in the head, died before reaching the General Santos City District Hospital here.

He said a third victim identified as Jeoffrey Amuncio, who was just passing by the area aboard a motorcycle when the shooting ensued, was hit by a stray bullet on his neck and is currently in critical condition at a local hospital.

“We’re currently looking at various angles as possible motive but the circumstances showed that the two victims were targeted by the gunman,” Octavio said.

Police Officer 1 Normandy Lopez, investigator of the Tambler police station, said the suspect appeared to have been monitoring the movements of the victims prior to the incident.

Citing initial statements issued by several witnesses, he said the suspect initially approached Villanueva and immediately shot him in the head without any provocation.

Lopez said the gunman then turned towards Tan and also shot him in the head.

“The witnesses heard at least three shots so one of them could have hit Amuncio,” he said.

Lopez said they are initially looking at land conflict and personal grudges involving the victims as possible motive of the killing.

He said a member of the Villanueva family surmised that the killing could have been triggered by a brewing conflict involving the land where their house was built. - PNA

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