Suspect in nurse’s slay claims he was drunk

BANGUED, Abra — The suspect in the shooting that killed a male nurse and wounded his young daughter claimed he was intoxicated at the time of the attack, authorities said.

The 28-year-old suspect was arrested in Tayum, Abra, following the shooting at around 9 p.m. on 23 October in Barangay Bacsil-Anggad, Bangued.

The victim, 36-year-old Mark Kenneth Acedo, worked as a nurse at Abra Provincial Hospital and also performed as a band vocalist. He was driving his family home from an evening walk at the Abra Sports Complex. His wife was in the front passenger seat, while their three daughters, aged 13, 10 and six, were in the back.

Closed-circuit television footage showed two people on a motorcycle stopping near the family’s vehicle shortly before gunshots were fired. The car then crashed into a parked vehicle. Acedo suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head, while his 10-year-old daughter, who was seated directly behind him, sustained two gunshot wounds.

Residents helped transport the victims to a hospital.

Bangued Municipal Police Station said the victim’s wife identified the suspect, prompting a hot-pursuit operation by local police and the Abra Provincial Mobile Force that led to his arrest in Poblacion, Tayum.

Police confiscated a .45-caliber firearm during the operation. Investigators also recovered three bullet casings, a bullet and a metallic fragment from the crime scene.

A murder complaint is expected to be filed against the suspect. Authorities are also determining whether other people were involved.