Manuel Saaberta, his wife and Mano Vera were in their apartment when five men burst in and held the three of them up. One of the men, having seen a ring on Saaberta's finger which Saaberta refused to give to him, subsequently fired two shots after a scuffle ensued. One of these shots hit Saaberta just above the heart. Though Patrolman Peter Nesdale organised for Saaberta to be taken to a hospital after he arrived on the scene, Saaberta died an hour after he was shot. The five men fled prior to the Patrolman's arrival.