Valenzuela cop shoots dead man with autism during raid

An 18-year-old man with special needs, identified as Edwin Arnigo who had autism, was shot dead by a police officer in Valenzuela City on Sunday, May 23, during a raid at an illegal cockfighting site in Barangay Lingunan.

The Valenzuela City Police Station (VCPS) maintains that Arnigo grabbed the gun from Master Sergeant Christopher Salcedo, leading to a scuffle that caused the gun to fire.

The VCPS statement, released Monday night, claims Arnigo's actions caused the escape of another individual Salcedo was apprehending.

This contradicts Arnigo's family's narrative, which states he was only buying an ice candy and was afraid of police, and that a police officer shot him.

Witnesses in the area corroborated the family's account that a police officer shot Arnigo.

Arnigo was rushed to the Valenzuela City Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.

The operation resulted in the arrest of three individuals and the confiscation of fighting cocks and bet money.