That was what Bacolod City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said yesterday, referring to the shoot-out between a motorist and a security guard at La Salle Avenue in front of the University Court Yard, Friday.

De la Paz said that investigation conducted by Station 4 policemen showed that it was the victim, Antonio Villanueva, Jr., 55, of Oasis Subdivision, Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod, who fired a shot at Security Guard Jose Pelegro, 48, of Hacienda San Isidro, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, but his gun malfunctioned.

Pelegro of Pax Security Agency, has been assigned at the University Court Yard for almost 15 years now, the police said.

Villanueva was hit in his abdomen and is now confined at the Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital, where he went after the shoot-out, police records show.

De la Paz said only the .38 caliber service firearm of Pelegro was recovered, while the .45 caliber pistol of Villanueva was not seized although police records show that it is licensed.

He said Pelegro will be released from detention if no charges are filed against him until today, and that they received information that the two parties are having initial talks of settlement although it has to be confirmed yet.

De la Paz also said that, contrary to what had been reported earlier, Villanueva is a businessman and not a policeman.

Passersby witnessed the incident at about 2:30 p.m. Friday when Villanueva and Pelegro drew their guns and shot at each other, which the police believe was triggered by a simple traffic altercation.*APN

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