A businessman was killed in a shooting incident inside his family compound in Barangay 40, Bacolod City, on Tuesday afternoon.
The victim, identified as Michael Garcia, was shot by an unidentified assailant who cornered him inside the property.
Garcia sustained gunshot wounds to his jaw and chest, which caused his immediate death despite attempts to rush him to the hospital.
An employee of the victim, Arlyn Esparagosa, described Garcia as a good and kind employer who had no known issues with anyone.
Esparagosa, a designer for Garcia’s businesses, said the victim was preparing to open a new branch of his Bayad Center franchise that day.
Garcia owned multiple business branches, including some in Iloilo, and was known for being both serious and a joker at times.
According to Esparagosa, she had never heard of any threats to Garcia’s life during her long tenure with the company.
Relatives of Garcia echoed similar sentiments, describing him as a family-oriented man who treated everyone well.
At the time of the incident, Garcia’s wife’s aunt was in the kitchen when she heard three gunshots, initially thinking they were related to electrical repairs being done by an electrician.
Witnesses reported that the suspect dropped the magazine of his pistol during the shooting, retrieved it, and fled on a motorcycle wearing a helmet.
The compound’s gate was usually left open because the family believed Garcia had no enemies.
Authorities are investigating the incident to identify the suspect and uncover the motive behind the attack.