American shot by Cebu rapper dies; bullet lodged in body part

Murder charges will be filed reportedly against Cebu singer/rapper Jed Andrew Salera, known popularly by his handle “Range 999,” after the 37-year-old American national he shot twice expired in the hospital.

“Mahimo na ning murder, if mapasaka sa korte ang kasong murder so dili maka-bail ang atoang suspetsado, ug malutsan siya og commitment order amo siya i-transfer ngadto sa Cebu City Jail,” according to Police Major Romeo Caacoy Jr., chief of the Mabolo Police Station. 

Range 999 was identified, in a CCTV footage, as the person who shot twice a foreigner outside of a club at a hotel in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City in the morning of March 17, 2024. 

The American national was hit on the thigh and on the lower portion of his chest. He was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center but was transferred reportedly to a private hospital where he expired. 

It was reported that the bullet got stuck in the foreigner’s body and may have hit a vital organ that caused his death.

However, Atty. Abelardo Quilaton, Jr. said that the police can be held for arbitrary detention after it has failed to file charges as of March 20, 2024, Wednesday.

“Technically, under our law, within a maximum of 36 hours, dapat nang buhi-an kay dili subject for inquest proceedings but under regular preliminary investigation proceedings; ato ning balaud ha, ang balaud maoy akong gipa-istorya, kinahanglan sa preliminary investigation mag-una og complaint, taga-an og chance ang pikas party para mohatag og  judicial counter-affidavit, that should be the process,” the lawyer emphasized in an interview.

The 36-hour lead time lapsed at about 8 p.m. on March 19, 2024, Tuesday, he added. —GMA Regional TV

(via Decemay Padilla/DYSS Super Radyo GMA)