Man Photographs Own Murder

Remember this post, about Tiger Woods' golf ball being caught by a photographer in mid-flight as it headed toward the photographer? In a sinister parallel, Filipino councilman Reynaldo Dagsa was taking a picture of his family when he was murdered by a car thief he had helped send to jail. Bizarrely and tragically, Dagsa captured with his camera the muzzle flash of one of the shots that killed him.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported the story. This is the portion of the picture that shows the killer:

Reynaldo Dagsa/AP

At least justice was served—with the help of the photograph, the murderer was identified  and is now in custody.

Mike
(Thanks to Ben Derge)

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Original contents copyright 2010 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Featured Comment by Nikhil Ramkarran: "I was robbed at gunpoint earlier this year while out taking photos with a friend. My friend had taken a photo of the robbers just moments before they robbed us which we were able to use to identify the thieves. They were arrested just days later. Luckily for us, my friend was using a camera strap that they were unable to open in the time they had (my camera was taken and later recovered).

"The most important thing? I still managed not to break my photo a day project :) And when I got back my camera I was able to post my photo for that day too. I can smile now, but it was a terrifying experience, mitigated somewhat by a camera."

Comments

[David]

The original frame, as shown at the Daily Inquirer link here, is a particularly chilling combination of standard family snapshot + killer's action captured simultaneously.

I suppose the gunman acted too fast to notice the family assembled for a picture, or was just stupid enough not to care.

[K. Praslowicz]

Very freakish last photo.

Reminiscent of the family in Madison who took a photo that showed a thief stealing their bags in the background.

[david lee]

When W. Eugene Smith's Leicas were stolen from his car, the thieves took pictures of themselves before selling the cameras at a pawn shop. When he recovered them, the film was still inside and they were arrested a little later.

[Mathew D. Hargreaves]

Mike,

I saw the story recently too. Hopefully in the future, there will be a story mentioning the sentence the murderer gets for his action. Preferably an equal and quick reaction for him.

Sincerely, Mathew

[Harry Lew]

I almost wish you hadn't published this, Mike. Problem is, you can never "unsee" such an image. It sears your gray matter and kills thoughts of love and beauty.

[Ed Kirkpatrick]

Is that white blob in the upper left portion of the image the bullet stopped by the camera flash? You said there was more than one shot taken... If this is a bullet it appears to be off target...

[Ed Kirkpatrick]

Also, I think it is likely this shot is the first one and not the fatal shot. The girl to the right of the shooter would have recoiled from the sound of the shot as would have Reynaldo Dagsa.

[Joseph Reid]

Without question this is chilling and horrifying if true. But the picture itself seems a little odd. Half the frame is the parked car, whose headlights are on. Is that muzzle flash or a reflection of the camera flash? (It seems like a flash photo, doesn't it?) According to an Associated Press story (at this link http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/04/reynaldo-dagsa-photo-of-murderer_n_804079.html) they were in an alley outside the victim's house and the shot was fired seconds after the picture. Strange and awful.