A stray bullet from a shooting encounter involving several unknown men killed a young girl in Barangay 775, Sta. Ana, Manila, Monday afternoon.
The child was just buying a barbecue at the back of the barangay officers and security’s seat when the shooting incident happened.
People ran around when the shooting happened, so they didn’t see the child fall.
Barangay Kagawad Roberto Cudal, 52, and three others were sitting in front of the barangay center.
In CCTV footage, two men riding a motorcycle were seen stopping at the station. A man goes down and shoots Cudal. The other fired multiple shots before fleeing.
“[Pinupuruhan] si kagawad. Kasi siya lang tinutukan eh. Kasi katabi ko siya mismo eh. Akala ko may tama rin ako,” said Binaventura Oxiles, tanod (security) at Barangay 775.
(They were targetting “kagawad” (official). Because I was right next to him. I thought I was hit too.)
Related story: Three-year-old boy shot dead during Cebu City drug bust
Stray bullet kills child in Manila
The barangay official member fell on the road and was rushed to the hospital while the one beside him, Romeo Nicolas, 59, was wounded.
The child was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
At least ten bullet shells were recovered at the crime scene, and police are still investigating the shooting.
A stray bullet is a bullet that, after being fired from a gun, hits an unintended target. Such a shooting accident may occur during crossfire or celebratory gunfire.
In the Philippines, incidents involving the stray bullet (Filipino: Ligaw na Bala) rose during the New Year celebration. The Philippine National Police has reportedly recorded 52 stray bullet incidents during the monitoring between December 16, 2015, and January 5, 2016, of which 42 victims were injured.