CAVITE CITY: Four alleged members of a gun-for-hire group, including their mastermind and his minor live-in partner, were killed while three others escaped during an encounter with policemen here before dawn on Monday.

Police Officer 2 Julius Llave, officer-on-case, identified the slain suspect as Airon Alvarez Cruz, 26, alleged leader of Airon Cruz Group; his live-in partner Charlie Jean Dimapilis, 15, reportedly three months pregnant; and three other unidentified gunmen.