Barely a day after he was arrested, the suspect in the killing of an octogenarian couple in Novaliches, Quezon City died in an alleged gun scuffle with cops while inside a police vehicle last night.
Police Lt. Col. Rossel Cejas, chief of the Quezon City Police District Station 4 (Novaliches), confirmed that Carl Joseph Bañanola, 37, died after trying to grab his escort’s firearm.
According to Cejas, he was with Bañanola inside police mobile QC-188 with three other QCPD Station 4 personnel around 6:40 p.m.
Cejas said they were on their way to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit at the Quezon City Police District headquarters in Camp Karingal after the suspect underwent inquest proceedings at the Quezon City Hall of Justice.
While inside the mobile, police said Bañanola requested to loosen his handcuff from behind which was obeyed by Police Staff Sgt. Alex Icban out of “human consideration.” However, the suspect suddenly grabbed the service firearm of Icban, resulting in a scuffle.
This prompted Cejas, who was in the passenger seat, to draw his gun and shot the suspect who was taken to the East Avenue Medical Center where he was declared dead on arrival.
Probers said Bañanola suffered bullet wounds in the chest and leg.
Bañanola was earlier presented yesterday by National Capital Region Police Office director Police Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar and QCPD chief Police Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr. in a press briefing in Camp Karingal after he was arrested Tuesday night on 4th Ave.in Caloocan City. (Alexandria San Juan)
