By CESAR JOLITO III

A 31-year-old tricycle driver was shot to death at Barangay 4 in Negros Occidental’s Kabankalan City on Thursday afternoon, January 22.

The victim, identified by police under the alias “Robert,” was a resident of Gregoria Ville in the city’s Barangay 3.

The incident occurred at around 5:30 p.m., while he was driving his tricycle in Sitio Buri.

Initial findings by Kabankalan police showed that a motorcycle carrying two unidentified men aligned alongside the victim’s tricycle.

Without any provocation, the back rider allegedly fired a gun of still undetermined caliber, hitting the victim in the head.

The suspects then fled toward Mabinay Highway in Barangay 1.

“Robert” was rushed to Holy Mother of Mercy Hospital for immediate medical treatment but was declared dead at around 1:00 a.m. yesterday.

Police said follow-up operations are ongoing to identify and locate the suspects.

The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation.

Authorities continue to appeal to the public for any information that may help solve the case./CJ, WDJ