A 17-year-old taekwondo player was killed by a stray bullet intended for policemen in a hot pursuit operation against three motorcycle-riding  snatchers, Saturday, in a dark alley in Villa Amada, Barangay Daro, Dumaguete City.

The victim was identified as Mark Noblefranca, 17, single, a student of the Negros Oriental High School and a member of the Dumaguete Taekwondo team that will compete at the 3rd Philippine Olympic Festival All-Visayas Qualifying Games today in Dumaguete City.

Noblefranca was accidentally hit in the  neck by a stray bullet fired by the suspect, who was riding a red motorcycle and being pursued by motorcycle-riding policemen.

The victim was rushed by his teammates to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital at around 10 p.m. Saturday, but he was declared dead on arrival.

Initial investigations disclosed that the fleeing suspects had fired at the pursuing police officers and accidentally hit Noblefranca, who was with his fellow taekwondo team members at Villa Amada. *RG/JG

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