By JHON CASINAS
A disgruntled former security guard disarmed and shot another guard before he held hostage about 30 workers at V-Mall in Greenhills, San Juan City Monday noon.
A police source present at the scene identified the hostage taker as a former mall security guard who went absent without leave (AWOL).
Initial investigation showed that the incident began around 12 noon Monday at V-Mall within the Greenhills shopping center.
The police source told reporters that the suspect disarmed another security guard and shot him.
Then, he held hostage 27 mall employees, four of them women, inside the mall’s admin office located on the second floor, the source said.
He also allegedly took the handheld radio of one of the security personnel which he used to talk with the authorities.
According to the police source, a spent shell from .45-caliber pistol was found along a hallway.
Mayor Francis Zamora told reporters that the security guard complained because he was sacked from his work.
Mall goers were quickly ushered out of the establishment after gunshots were overheard inside around midday.
Policemen cordoned off the mall, which is a go-to place for people looking for cheap items such as clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, electronic devices, and other products.
Initial information from authorities revealed that the hostage taker was armed with firearms.
According to the police source, there were also unconfirmed reports that the suspect was armed with four grenades.
The mall has since been placed on lockdown following the hostage incident.
Authorities were negotiating with the hostage taker as of writing.
