A SECURITY guard assigned in one of the malls in Cagayan de Oro City was detained after he shot and wounded a suspected thief after a briefed chase last Friday morning.
Police Major Julius Saluta, Cogon police chief, identified the security guard as Peter Lagrosas, 47, a resident of Magsaysay-Del Pilar streets of the said city.
Lagrosas was on duty at BDO bank located inside SM mall at CM Recto highway when the incident took place.
Saluta said Lagrosas shot a certain Kenneth Gella, 29, residing at Barangay Indahag, of the same city after the latter resisted what was supposed to be a citizen’s arrest.
Gella was hit once in the lower portion of his body from the service pistol of the said guard.
It was learned that prior to the incident, Lagrosas noticed a commotion just a distance away from where he was standing.
He saw Gella being chased by two individuals later identified as brothers Icon and Ivan Nery. The two were able to catch Gella outside the said store thus, a scuffle occurred.
With the intention to help, Lagrosas joined the fray but it seems they have no match against Gella, he was tempted to pull his gun and shot the victim.
“Sa tiil ra man gyud unta niya pusilon but ambot naunsa to nga sa toong bahin sa hawak man naigo,” Saluta said.
Lagrosas was brought by the responding policemen to Cogon police station for an investigation.
For his part, Nery told police he and his brother were at the mall presumably to meet with Gella.
He said Gella allegedly took his mobile phone a few days ago and the former agreed to return it on that day. He is an acquaintance of Gella.
“Sa dihang nagkita na silang tulo kalit lang misinggit kining mga Nery og kawatan, kawatan midagan dayon si Gella mao tong nahitabo ang lakag,” Saluta narrated.
The victim was brought to Northern Mindanao Medical Center for treatment. Police will also subject him to questioning.
Lagrosas will be facing further investigation to justify his action.