By Jennifer P. Rendon
A live-in couple both died in a shooting-and-suicide episode evening of April 9, 2022 in Sta, Barbara, Iloilo.
Killed were Rachelle Lopez, 39, a teacher of Jaro National High School and resident of Barangay San Nicolas, La Paz, Iloilo City; and Jose Marco Ocampo, 48, of Lessandra Subdivision in Pavia, Iloilo.
Witnesses recounted that the couple were fighting outside of their parked vehicle at Barangay Tuburan around 7 p.m. Saturday.
A village official claimed they went out of their house as they were arguing on top of their voices.
Lieutenant Aileen Lacrite, Sta. Barbara police chief, said the barangay official called them for assistance after the woman was heard asking for help.
Residents allegedly tried to come to her rescue but had to move back after seeing that Ocampo was armed with a caliber .45 pistol.
When a team of four policemen arrived, they identified themselves and tried to pacify Ocampo.
But shortly later, they heard successive gunfire and saw Lopez fall to the ground.
Lacrite said Ocampo turned his gaze to the police officers and fired his gun twice.
Lacrite said the policemen had to defend and returned fire at Ocampo.
“We have no other choice but to apply reasonable force,” she said.
Lopez was rushed to Iloilo Mission Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Ocampo was taken to Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City but was also declared dead at around 8:35 p.m.
As of this writing, Lacrite said they are trying to get pertinent information about the couple.
Ocampo was apparently married but investigators are yet to learn more about Lopez.
“With both of them now dead, we have to gather information as to what triggered their fight,” she said.
The family of the two fatalities have yet to issue a statement over what happened.
