By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

An American citizen was shot dead by two bar customers after he reportedly refused to give them beer late Tuesday evening in Barangay 5, Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Police identified the fatality as 57-year-old Eric Hendrickson, originally from Iowa in the United States, but currently a resident of Saint Francis Village in the city’s Barangay 4.

Silay City police chief, Police Superintendent Noel Polines, said based on initial investigations, Hendrickson was drinking beer inside a bar, while the two suspects, identified as 40-year-old Gilbert Apellido and 18-year-old Neil Brian Corseno, were seated at an adjacent table.

The suspects approached Hendrickson and asked for beer, to which he refused, resulting in an altercation.

Hendrickson reportedly sought to avoid trouble and transferred to another table, but the suspects followed him.

One of the suspects then pulled out an unidentified caliber firearm and shot Hendrickson in the head.

The victim was rushed to the city’s Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital for treatment, but he was declared dead on arrival by hospital staff.

Police, meanwhile, conducted a follow-up operation and arrested the suspects.

Both suspects are now detained at the Silay City Police Station and face murder charges./DGB, WDJ