Paramedics and police carry on a stretcher the body of John
Pope outside a courtroom in Cebu city, in central
Philippines. REUTERS/STRINGER
A 66-year-old Canadian man opened fire inside a courtroom
in the central Philippine province of Cebu, killing a doctor
and a lawyer before shooting and killing himself, police said.
John Pope, charged with "malicious mischief and grave
threat", pulled out his gun minutes before the hearing began.
He shot the prosecutor and the doctor and left the court
during the commotion that followed. It was not clear how he
was able to carry a handgun into the court premises.
While walking towards the lobby of a building opposite to the
court, he shot the state prosecutor handling his case at
point-blank range. The prosecutor was in critical condition
in hospital, the National Bureau of Investigation said.
Police said they shot Pope in the arm, but he also shot
himself in the head after falling to the floor, the bureau
said.
Prosecutor General Claro Arellano said in a statement it was
clear there was a "serious lapse in security" in the court
premises, calling on the Supreme Court, overseer of courts
all over the country, to investigate.
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