Rider killed in a fatal shooting in Maguindanao Del Sur motorcycle ambush

• A 38-year-old motorcycle rider was fatally shot on Friday, July 4, 2025, in Barangay Lower Salbo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, by an assailant also on a motorcycle

• The lone perpetrator, riding a motorcycle without a visible plate number, followed the victim before opening fire and swiftly escaping the scene

• Crime scene investigators recovered eleven spent shell casings, indicating a sustained assault, as police continue efforts to identify the firearm's caliber and the motive

• The Police Regional Office-Bangsamanao Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) is conducting a thorough investigation, including reviewing footage and seeking witnesses, to identify and apprehend the perpetrator

A 38-year-old male motorcycle rider tragically lost his life on Friday, July 4, 2025, after being ambushed and shot by an assailant also riding a motorcycle in Barangay Lower Salbo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.

Authorities from the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) have launched an intensive investigation into the brazen daytime attack.

According to initial reports from PRO-BAR, the victim was traveling on his motorcycle, en route to Datu Unsay, when he was reportedly followed by a lone assailant.

The suspect, who was riding a motorcycle described as having no visible plate number, trailed the victim for an unspecified distance.

Upon reaching a specific point in Barangay Lower Salbo, the assailant opened fire, unleashing a volley of shots at the victim before making a swift escape from the scene.

Responding law enforcement and emergency medical personnel quickly arrived at the site. The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body.

Despite immediate efforts to provide aid and transport him to a medical facility, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, unable to survive the extent of his injuries.

The sudden and violent nature of the attack left the local community in a state of shock.

Crime scene investigators conducted a thorough examination of the area. Their efforts led to the recovery of eleven spent shell casings.

These casings, found scattered at the site where the shooting occurred, are crucial pieces of evidence.

However, the initial report did not specify the caliber of the firearm used, indicating that this detail remains under investigation by ballistic experts.

The number of shell casings suggests a determined and sustained assault by the perpetrator.

The police investigation is currently focused on two primary objectives: identifying the perpetrator and establishing the motive behind the fatal shooting.

Investigators are likely reviewing any available surveillance footage from the vicinity, if present, and appealing to potential witnesses who may have observed the incident or seen the assailant before or after the crime.

The absence of a plate number on the suspect's motorcycle presents a significant challenge in quickly identifying the individual responsible.

Incidents involving motorcycle-riding assailants, often referred to as "riding-in-tandem" attacks, present particular difficulties for law enforcement due to the speed and anonymity offered by motorcycles.

These types of crimes underscore the persistent challenges faced by authorities in maintaining peace and order in certain regions.

The PRO-BAR has affirmed its commitment to pursuing all leads to bring the perpetrator to justice and to ensure the safety of residents in Datu Saudi Ampatuan and surrounding areas.

The public has been urged to cooperate with authorities by providing any information that could assist in resolving this case.

News, photos or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, such could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In other news, a CCTV footage in Barangay Abilay Norte, Oton, captured several riders stealing two goats from a roadside farm and fleeing on motorcycles. Despite the clear evidence, the goat owner chose not to report the theft to the police. In a separate incident in Barangay San Vicente, Pototan, a man was arrested for stealing three goats worth ₱21,000. The suspect in Pototan now faces theft charges, while authorities urge residents to report livestock crimes promptly.

Still in other news, a 37-year-old woman, alias Edna, was found dead right inside the boutique where she was working. The discovery was made past 12 p.m. on July 1, OnePH reported. The victim sustained multiple stab wounds, and the suspect was her live-in-partner, whom she already left the month before the incident. Police authorities were able to arrest the suspect who also admitted to the crime.

Source: KAMI.com.gh