12-year-old girl killed in neighborhood shooting in Malabon

A 12-year-old girl was shot dead while playing on a street in Barangay Longos, Malabon City on June 13.

According to a report by Gabriel Gonzales on "24 Oras" on Friday, the victim was shot in the back. She was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

"May narinig po kaming baril, tumakbo kami, tapos akala namin nagpa-prank lang... Tumawag po kami ng tulong," a playmate of the girl victim said.

(We heard a gunshot and ran, but we thought it was just a prank... We called for help.)

Aside from the 12-year-old girl, a man who was being chased by the gunman was also killed in the incident.

"Nagkaroon sila ng away ng biktima kaya nagresulta sa ganitong pangyayari na kung saan nabaril niya 'yung biktima," Malabon City Police chief Police Colonel Kenneth Mission said.

(They had a dispute, which led to this incident in which he shot the victim.)

"'Yung biktima naman sabi ng suspek, according sa pag-imbestiga natin, ay balak siyang saksakin sa katunayan meron hawak na patalim 'yung biktima," he added.

(According to our investigation, the suspect claimed that the male victim intended to stab him and was carrying a bladed weapon.)

The suspect fled the scene but was arrested a few hours later in Tondo, Manila, after police identified him through CCTV footage.

"Masakit din po. Madami pang pangarap ang anak ko. Gusto niya makatulong sa 'kin daw po pati sa mga kapatid [niya], iaangat niya raw po kami, gusto niya raw po makapagtapos [ng pag-aaral]," the girl's mother said.

(It hurts so much. My child had so many dreams. She wanted to help me and her siblings. She said she would lift us out of poverty and that she wanted to finish her studies.)

The report said the incident was also traumatic for the girl victim's younger brother, who witnessed the shooting.

"Ako po sana yung tatamaan po eh tapos sabi niya po sa akin tumakbo na raw po ako tapos tumakbo na po ako," the victim's younger brother said.

(I was the one who was supposed to be hit, but she told me to run, so I ran.)

The suspect, who will be charged with murder, is currently detained at the Malabon City Police Station jail facility. He refused to issue a statement regarding the incident. — Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/VBL, GMA News