A GROUP of teenagers, led by a 16-year-old, killed a 61-year-old taxi driver and left a 29-year-old employee in critical condition when, failing to find the subject of their angry search, they decided to fire their guns indiscriminately yesterday morning in Tondo, Manila.

Dead on arrival at the hospital due to several gunshot wounds in the body was Ronaldo Santos, of No. 440 Francisco St., Tondo, Manila, while the other victim, identified as Rodolfo Mabat, 29, a pedicab driver, of 358 Capulong St., Tondo, is still fighting for his life in a Manila  hospital.                                                                 

An investigation made by PO2 Bernardo Cayabyab of the Manila Police District-Homicide Section said the incident took place around 1:30 a.m. at the corner of Capulong and Velasquez Streets in Tondo.

Witness Clarence Santos,18, an out-of-school youth who is also residing in Tondo, said that the suspects, particularly their leader Jude Genesis,16, alias “Bad Jude,” have long been hunting him down for unclear reasons.

Santos identified one of Genesis’ cohorts and constant companions as Roger Dionisio, 22.

Santos said he and his friend Jeffrey Quilit were talking when Genesis, Dionisio and another, arrived and pointed their guns at them, without any provocation. Santos said he was able to flee the scene, leaving Quilit behind.

The suspects then reportedly boarded a motorcycle in search for Santos but failed to find him.

Apparently irked for not being able to find Santos, the three were said to have returned to the place where they initially found him and then fired indiscriminately, hitting the two victims.

The police are now hunting down the three suspects to make them answer for their crime.