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One Injured and Dozens Held Hostage in Manila Mall Shooting Hostages Are Freed From Manila Mall
(about 2 hours later)
MANILA — A disgruntled security guard who lost his job at an upscale mall in the Philippines went on a shooting rampage in Manila on Monday, injuring at least one person and holding as many as 30 other people hostage, before surrendering about 10 hours later, according to the police and news reports. MANILA — A disgruntled security guard who lost his job at an upscale mall in the Philippines went on a shooting rampage in Manila on Monday, injuring at least one person and holding dozens of other people hostage, before surrendering about 10 hours later, according to the police and news reports.
One person was shot and taken to a hospital, Francis Zamora, the mayor of the San Juan district, told ANC television after the gunman, identified as 31-year-old Archie Paray, attacked the V-Mall at Greenhills. All of the hostages were freed, although the police did not provide a figure. One person was shot and taken to a hospital, Francis Zamora, the mayor of the San Juan district, told ANC television after the gunman, identified as 31-year-old Archie Paray, attacked the V-Mall at Greenhills.
The mall’s electronics and clothing stores were sealed off as shoppers were evacuated, while the gunman was holding hostages inside an administrative office after the episode began around 10 a.m. All of the hostages were freed, although the number of them was unclear: The mayor initially put the figure at 30, then revised that estimate to as many as 70, and the police did not provide a total.
“What is important is that we had zero casualties,” Mr. Zamora said. “That was what we wanted. That the hostages can all go out safe. Everyone was in shock, very traumatized, they had to be given time to recover. They were shocked. They really need to rest. There were no injuries except the one who was shot earlier.”
The episode began around 10 a.m., and the mall’s electronics and clothing stores were sealed off as shoppers were evacuated, while the gunman kept the hostages inside an administrative office.
The gunman was upset that he had been fired from his job at the mall and asked to speak to his former colleagues on a conference call. He requested food and water and had “calmed down a bit,” Mr. Zamora said, speaking before the crisis was resolved.The gunman was upset that he had been fired from his job at the mall and asked to speak to his former colleagues on a conference call. He requested food and water and had “calmed down a bit,” Mr. Zamora said, speaking before the crisis was resolved.
Mr. Zamora said the gunman claimed to have a grenade, but the police did not confirm that.Mr. Zamora said the gunman claimed to have a grenade, but the police did not confirm that.
Afterward, Mr. Paray, who had close-cropped hair and was wearing black shirt, was allowed to speak to reporters and railed against what he said was corruption in the mall’s security guard’s rotation, describing himself as a “fall guy.” Representatives of the mall could not immediately be reached for comment. Afterward, Mr. Paray was allowed to speak to reporters and railed against what he said was corruption in the mall’s security guard’s rotation, describing himself as a “fall guy.” Representatives of the mall could not immediately be reached for comment.
The impromptu news conference ended after about 20 minutes, when he was tackled by the police after motioning as though he were getting something from his waist band. He was then handcuffed and taken into custody.The impromptu news conference ended after about 20 minutes, when he was tackled by the police after motioning as though he were getting something from his waist band. He was then handcuffed and taken into custody.
Management at the mall said the injured man was a security guard at the shopping center.Management at the mall said the injured man was a security guard at the shopping center.
Jason Gutierrez reported from Manila and Daniel Victor from Hong Kong.Jason Gutierrez reported from Manila and Daniel Victor from Hong Kong.