DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 28 June) – A suspect in the rape-slay of a 16-year-old junior high school student last week was killed Thursday after he allegedly fought with police officers and attempted to grab the pistol of a jail guard inside the Talomo Police Station here.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Senior Insp. Maria Teresita Gaspan said that the 35-year-old suspect, James B. Narte, a laborer and resident of Bago Gallera, attacked PO1 Nierca Mutia while she was preparing to take his fingerprint at 7:20 a.m.
Gaspan said the detainee also attempted to snatch the firearm of jail guard PO1 Kathllen Rose Antoneth C. Pelino. In the course of the violent scuffle, the pistol fired, hitting the ceiling once and the wall beside the door thrice.
Upon hearing the gunshots, other senior police officers responded to the scene.
Gaspan said SPO4 Danilo Daquigan was forced to shoot the detainee as there was an “imminent danger” and his colleague was nearly overwhelmed.
She said the police brought the injured detainee to the nearest hospital but was already dead when they arrived.
Narte had a pending case for rape with homicide.
On June 22, the rape victim’s older brother went out to look for his sister who failed to return after she left home to buy cellphone load.
He discovered his sister’s body around 9:30 p.m. in an abandoned house, wrapped in a blue plastic sheet used to encase banana plants. Her pants and underwear were pulled down to her knees.
Authorities said the victim succumbed to wounds and contusions, particularly in her head, hit by a hard object. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
