SAN PEDRO–Ivan Aldana, 24, a carpenter of San Pedrito, San Pedro, is presently fighting for his life in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital’s intensive care unit, with a slug lodged in his spine after he was shot in the upper back.

Aldana was shot at about 10:30 last night by a man he knew while he was standing near a bar in San Pedrito.

Police said that the man approached Aldana, took out a gun and fired about five times at him. Aldana tried to run, but he was struck in the right upper back. His assailant then escaped out of the area.

Aldana was rushed to the San Pedro Polyclinic, where an X-ray revealed that the slug was lodged in his spine.

He was later transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was admitted in a critical condition.

Police said that shortly before the shooting, there had been an argument in the bar. Aldana came out and the man with whom he had been arguing left, but reportedly returned shortly after, armed with a gun.

Police say the shooter is known to them, and they are looking for him.