By CESAR JOLITO III

A mentally challenged man was killed in a shooting incident involving an on-duty security guard at the Kabankalan New Public Market on Monday afternoon, January 19.

The victim, identified as 33-year-old alias Alim, a resident of Sitio Balisong in Kabankalan’s Barangay Orong, sustained multiple gunshot wounds during an altercation inside the public market in Barangay 1 at 4:45 p.m.

Alim was rushed to Lorenzo Zayco District Hospital but was later declared dead.

Authorities identified the suspect as 35-year-old alias Joe, a security guard assigned to the market and a resident of Barangay Inayawan in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town.

Kabankalan police said the incident stemmed from the victim allegedly turning off the main power switch of an establishment.

Police said the guard ordered the victim to leave, but the latter reportedly became unruly and resisted apprehension.

Authorities said the suspect pursued the victim after he attempted to flee, and upon catching up, the victim continued to resist and refused to cooperate.

The guard allegedly drew his issued 9mm pistol and fired several shots, hitting the victim in different parts of the body.

After the shooting, Joe voluntarily surrendered to police and turned over his issued firearm.

Investigators recovered fired cartridge cases, live ammunition, a pistol magazine, and the firearm used in the incident./CJ, WDJ