5 persons of interest identified in stray bullet death of 12-year-old

Police identified five persons of interest in the death of a 12-year-old girl who was killed by a stray bullet while celebrating New Year’s Eve outside her home in Lanao del Norte.

In Tina Panganiban-Perez’s Saturday report on “24 Oras Weekend,” the chief of the Sapad Municipal Police said that the five persons of interest were neighbors of the victim, Suzette Abrigando.

They are set to undergo a paraffin test, with ballistic tests also to be undertaken.

Investigators said that Suzette was planning to welcome the new year with her cousins when she suddenly fell. It was at the hospital that her relatives learned that a stray bullet had hit Abrigando on the head.

Emilyn, Suzette’s mother, described her daughter as sweet and thoughtful.

“Kawawa ang anak ko. Manghihingi talaga kami ng hustisya,” Emilyn said

Meanwhile, the 11-year-old Negros Occidental boy who was hit by a stray bullet in the stomach was now in stable condition.

The father of the victim said his son went outside with their neighbors to watch the fireworks.

Amid the festivities, however, his son suddenly weakened and fell to the ground.

“Pagdating sa ospital. Hindi raw paputok ang tumama sa bata. Bala raw ang nakasugat sa bata. Okay naman na ang anak ko ngayon, ialalabas pa lang ng ICU,” the father said.

While the family had no who had shot the boy, the father urged the suspect to surrender to authorities. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News