Three people were injured in a gun scuffle between a German national and a police officer along the National Highway Crossing Makar in Barangay Labangal, General Santos City, on Tuesday, August 5.
Police said the incident happened shortly after 12 noon when Christopher Sebastian, a German national, allegedly grabbed the service firearm of a patrolman assigned to the Sarangani Provincial Police Office while the officer was on his motorcycle.
The two grappled for control of the weapon, which discharged multiple times. The police officer was hit and fell to his knees but managed to get back up and continue the scuffle. Sebastian was also wounded during the encounter.
A passing tricycle driver, identified as Raul Kindat, was struck in the arm by a stray bullet. His family appealed for help with hospital and surgery expenses.
Investigators said initial information points to possible personal problems involving the foreigner, including a reported dispute with his girlfriend and her family. This may have led him to attempt to harm himself by seizing the firearm from a police acquaintance who had come to assist him.
The injured police officer, Sebastian, and Kindat were all taken to the hospital for treatment.
Police are continuing the investigation to determine the motive and exact sequence of events.
