By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY — A police officer fatally shot himself after killing a woman during an argument Thursday night in Purok Camia, Barangay Poblacion, Valladolid, Negros Occidental.
Police withheld the names of the 33-year-old woman from Barangay Sagua Banua and the 40-year-old suspect from Barangay Doldol.
Police Capt. Bonifacio Galvez Jr., deputy chief of the Valladolid Municipal Police Station, said the woman and the suspect were in a heated argument when the officer allegedly drew a 9mm pistol and shot the victim before turning the firearm on himself.
The woman died from five gunshot wounds to the body, head and hand.
The suspect also died from gunshot wounds to the chin and right temple.
Galvez said the incident was witnessed by the woman’s 10-year-old son, who told authorities he did not know what triggered the argument.
The suspect, who held the rank of police master sergeant, was assigned to the Iloilo City Police Office.
Recovered from the scene were the suspect’s issued service firearm—a 9mm pistol with an inserted magazine containing nine live rounds of ammunition—along with three spent shell casings and three slugs.
Police did not disclose the relationship between the suspect and the victim.
Galvez confirmed the woman was a widow, and an investigation is ongoing to determine the motive.
