A German national jumped off from the third floor of the SM City mall at the Reclamation Area in Bacolod City and died, at about 3 p.m. yesterday. The victim, identified as Richard Alexander Harbich, 40, was rushed to the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival, Chief Insp. Richard Fajarito, Police Station 1 commander, said. Harbich suddenly stepped on the railing and jumped, Bea Hernandez, 40, who was sipping juice with her children near the victim before the incident, said. Hernandez said minutes before the incident, Harbich, who looked anxious and pale, was roaming alone at the third floor. He then proceeded near the railing, where he jumped off. Mall-goer Larina Miraveles, who was still in shock, said she heard a loud bang that she thought at first was a gunshot, until she saw Harbich lying on his back at the ground with his hands shaking. Rescue personnel immediately attended to the victim, and security personnel cordoned the area and controlled the huge crowd that gathered at the scene, Miraveles said. Fajarito said there was no foul play in the incident, adding that Harbich also attempted to commit suicide on Tuesday but was subdued by mall personnel. In his blotter report at Police Station 4, Harbich said that his live-in partner, whose name was not disclosed, took his ATM card and withdrew all his money, Fajarito said. The police are eyeing frustration at live-in partner, who had left him and the lack of money as his reasons for ending his life, Fajarito said. He said the police will coordinate with the German Embassy on his death as he has no family in Bacolod. On the part of the mall, May Castro, SM Bacolod public relation manager, said they are cooperating fully with the police and rescuers, adding that they will review their security to determine what aspects need to be enhanced to prevent cases like this. Yesterday's suicide case was the first incident in the mall, Castro said.*SGG

Smiley Purisima photo Rescue personnel attending to Richard Alexander Harbich, who jumped from the third floor of the SM City Mall in Bacolod City, in full view of mall-goers yesterday* back to top