Shooting of vegetable vendor caught on terrifying livestream

• A 23-year-old vegetable vendor was shot at close range while she was busy conducting a livestream in Taytay, Rizal, on Friday night
• The suspect, a 31-year-old man, was arrested the following morning in Angono after being identified through the viral video footage
• Police investigation revealed the motive was likely resentment, as the victim allegedly reported the suspect's infidelities to his former partner
• The victim survived the attack with a grazing wound to the head and is currently recovering in a hospital in Pasig City

A regular night of selling vegetables turned into a horrific crime scene after a young vendor was shot while she was interacting with her followers on a livestream. The incident occurred in Purok 4, Barangay Sta. Ana, Taytay, Rizal, on the evening of January 16.

The victim, identified as a 23-year-old woman known to her colleagues as a kind and jolly person, was busy attending to her store when a man wearing a mask and a cap approached her from behind. Without warning, the assailant pulled out a .45 caliber pistol and fired at her head. The terrifying moment was captured live, including the sounds of the gunshot and the frantic cries for help from bystanders as the victim collapsed on the road.

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Witnesses initially mistook the sound for a bursting tire. “Narinig ko ‘yong pumutok. Akala ko gulong lang na pumutok. Nagtakbuhan na kami dito tapos nakabulagta na si ate. Mabait po ‘yon. Palabiro,” said Sam Reloquio, a co-worker of the victim. Another witness recalled the difficulty of finding a ride to the hospital because people were stunned by fear.

The suspect, identified as 31-year-old "Freddie," casually walked away from the scene and reportedly escaped on a waiting motorcycle. However, the law caught up with him on Saturday morning during a hot pursuit operation in Angono, Rizal.

Police Lieutenant Marlon Maiso, Chief of the Investigation Section of Taytay MPS, explained that the motive appears to be rooted in deep-seated anger. “Ang motibo nito ay parang inggit at galit na rin. Base sa impormasyon ng dating kinakasama, nagkaroon si suspek ng mga relasyon kung saan itong biktima ang taga-sumbong sa ate niya,” he said. The suspect was reportedly further enraged when his partner, who owns the store, broke up with him, leaving the victim to manage most of their business.

Despite being caught, the suspect denied the allegations, claiming he treats the victim like his own child. “Anak ko na po ‘yon. Tinuring ko na pong anak ‘yon. Nasa Angono po ako niyan. Matagal na po akong hindi umuuwi doon,” he insisted. He is currently detained and faces a charge of frustrated murder. Fortunately, the victim is now in stable condition and is recuperating at a hospital in Pasig City.

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The brazen nature of this attack has shocked the local community, serving as a grim reminder of how personal disputes can escalate into public violence.

In a similar incident involving workplace violence, a security guard was recently arrested for the shooting of two fellow guards. The suspect was apprehended following a manhunt, highlighting the ongoing efforts of local authorities to crack down on gun-related crimes in the metro.

Another tragedy involving family ties occurred when a man was arrested for allegedly killing his own brother-in-law (bilas). The dispute, which reportedly stemmed from a long-standing personal grudge, ended in a fatal encounter that left the family in mourning as the suspect was taken into police custody.

Source: KAMI.com.gh