Suspects cleared in death of seven-year-old victim of stray bullet

(Updated 10:22 p.m.) Four men who were under police custody for their possible involvement in the accidental killing of Stephanie Nicole Ella are, for now, “out” as suspects, as the ballistics test of a .45 caliber pistol they fired the night she was hit found that it does not match the slug from the victim's body. The seven-year-old Ella was hit in the head by a stray bullet during New Year's Eve celebrations outside her home in Caloocan City. "Lumalabas na ang baril na ginamit nilang paputok hindi nag-match sa slug na nakuha sa victim. As of now out sila sa suspects," Caloocan City police chief Senior Superintendent Rimas Calixto said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said they used the slug extracted from the remains of the victim as the basis for the test. One of the men was identified as Juan Agus, a registered owner of a .45 caliber pistol. Ella was killed by a .45 caliber pistol round. Agus surrendered to authorities after he was approached by Caloocan Mayor Enrico Echiverri. The mayor had been informed by local barangay officials that Agus and his friends were having drinks and were firing Agus' weapon at his home during New Year's Eve. Agus, who lives a street away from the Ella residence, said that he surrendered to clear himself of involvement in the child's death. Though he admitted that he and his friends fired the pistol, they were not shooting it up in the air. Rather, the gun was pointed downwards at a "canal." Agus and his three unidentified friends were turned over to the Philippine National Police and are being held for questioning at the Barugo police station in Caloocan City. The police are also in possession of Agus' pistol. Calixto said the four had admitted to firing Agus' gun on New Year's Eve. But Calixto said Agus and his three companions are not off the hook as they still face charges for illegal discharge of firearms, a bailable offense. Agus also faces additional charges for negligence as he was the owner of the gun. "Icha-charge pa rin ng illegal discharge of firearms at si Agus, negligence," he said. When asked if the search for suspects is back to square one, Calixto said, "tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang investigation." Remains taken home Meanwhile, Stephanie Nicole's remains were taken to the Ella home in Caloocan for the wake. There was a delay as the casket was still being prepared. Vice President Jejomar Binay arrived to express his sympathies and he patiently waited along with everyone else for the arrival of Stephanie Nicole's remains. PNP National Capital Region Police Office Chief Leonardo Espina arrived, not only to express his sympathies, but also to have the PNP crime lab explain the details of the shooting. Espina said that based on the crime lab's findings, the bullet hit Stephanie Nicole from behind, with the shooter only 50 meters away. He added that Agus and his companions, though absolved of the actual killing, are still under arrest for illegally discharging the pistol. They will be released upon the order of the court. Espina also said, "We will have [Agus' gun license] revoked. Hindi lang possible. We will have it revoked! Gun ownership is a privilege, not a right." And as far as the investigation into the true killers of Stephanie Nicole, Espina is not giving up. "This is one case we are seriously solving," said the NCRPO chief, "It may be difficult but it's not impossible." The victim's grandmother, Menchie Ella, told GMA News Online that though the family appreciated the commiseration of droves of visitors, she requested that at least for this first night of the wake they be spared having to entertain so many people. Given the volume of visitors, the alley to the Ella home was closed off. Only 10 people at a time will be allowed through the gate. They will then be allowed into the Ella home two at a time. The wake-goers will then have to leave through the other end of the alley. — DVM/BM/HS, GMA News