Working student shot dead in Batangas

A 22-year-old working student was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen along the national highway in San Jose, Batangas.

The victim, Charles Usi, who was taking up a Bachelor of Arts in Communication at Westmead International School, was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival after sustaining five gunshot wounds from a .45-caliber firearm.

“Initially ang report po sa amin ay vehicular accident tapos noong dumating ang aming first responder, doon nila nakita na may mga tama ng bala,” said PMaj. Florencio Caisip Jr., chief of the San Jose Municipal Police Station.

“Nung madala namin siya sa Metro San Jose Hospital, accordingly is lima yung tama. Bale yung putok sa likod, lumusot doon sa kanyang gitara tapos lumusot sa katawan,” Caisip added.

Usi was on his way home on his motorcycle after singing at a bar when he was shot by the suspects Barangay Banay-Banay II at around 9 p.m. on Sunday.

CCTV footage showed the victim riding his motorcycle shortly before two suspects on another motorcycle caught up with him.

The actual shooting was not captured on camera, but successive gunshots could be heard in the footage.

“Naka-helmet. Yung isa, yung driver is naka-helmet ng puti and yung back rider niya is naka-helmet ng itim,” Caisip said.

Investigators are looking into several possible motives for the killing, but police have yet to disclose further details.