A family of three, including a 10-year-old child, was gunned down brutally inside their store in Barangay Mallorca, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.

The alleged cause: An unpaid debt.

According to police, four suspects were involved in the crime, but only three entered the store around 1:00 p.m. on March 26, 2025.

They opened fire without hesitation, killing a 55-year-old father, his 52-year-old wife, and their 10-year-old child.

After the attack, the suspects fled on two motorcycles.

Later, authorities recovered empty shells of a .45 caliber firearm from the crime scene.

A manhunt operation led to the arrest of two suspects, while the other two remain at large.

Police said the incident was linked to the suspects' unpaid debt to the victims, who had already demanded payment and repossession of the land used as collateral.

“Eh, ngayon po dahil hindi na po makapagbayad tapos may nangyari pa pong insidente na hinagisan nila ng granada ‘yung pamilya, parang ‘yung naging settlement nila is nagbayad sila ng 150K at ibinigay po nila yung titulo ng lupa para maayos na lang po yung ginawa nila,” PCpt. Noime Gogotano, PIO of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office, said.

Authorities are now preparing multiple murder charges against the suspects.

"Ngayon po, kasalukuyan pong ikinakasa yung mga dokumento para mai-file po yung kaso. Kakasuhan po sila ng multiple murder," Gogotano added.

One suspect denied involvement while the other refused to give a statement.

“Wala akong alam dun,” one of the suspects said.

The victims' relatives are calling for justice.