CAVITE – Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of a man initially believed to be a victim of a hit-and-run found along Davilan Road in Barangay Lantic, Carmona City.

A report from the Cavite Police Provincial Office dated July 16 said that investigators first suspected a hit-and-run when the victim was found on the roadside early morning on July 10. The initial police report said, “the victim appeared to have been run over and possibly dragged by an unidentified vehicle.”

However, scene of the crime operatives later recovered two fired .45-caliber cartridge cases and one live round of ammunition near the scene, prompting authorities to pursue a homicide investigation.

The post-mortem examination report dated July 14 confirmed that the victim died from gunshot wounds to the head and back.

The investigation later revealed that the victim was a rider for an on-demand ride-hailing app. Authorities found that during the date and time of the incident, the victim had an active booking to Davilan Road in Carmona.

A review of the CCTV footage along the victim's route showed that he arrived in Carmona on his motorcycle with an unidentified male passenger. Later footage showed the male passenger driving the victim's motorcycle toward Biñan City, Laguna, while the victim was no longer seen.

On July 11, investigators learned that a motorcycle of the same model and plate number as the victim’s was recovered in a separate shooting incident in Trece Martires City. The investigation also found that the suspect tried to extort the victim's family after his death.  

The discovery prompted the Carmona Component City Police Station (CCPS) to coordinate with the Trece Martires CCPS, resulting in the arrest of the 22-year-old suspect in Barangay 105, Tondo, Manila, on July 14.