A 66-year-old man was killed by a stray bullet while sitting outside his home in Pampanga on Christmas Eve.

The victim was identified as Raul Pangilinan. According to the Pampanga Police, Pangilinan was outside his house when he felt pain in his chest and collapsed.

Pampanga Police Director, PCOL. Eugene Marcelo, said the victim thought initially that he was hit by an object thrown at him.

“Biglang sabi niya, ‘Sinong nambato?’ Para kasing tinamaan siya sa dibdib, eh. Hindi niya alam, akala niya may binato lang siya. Tapos, ilang sandali, nakita na may dugo ’yung kamay, ’yung dibdib niya ng relative niya, at eventually, hinimatay siya at ini-rush na siya sa hospital,” Marcelo said.

Marcelo added that Pangilinan died in the hospital later after the pellet traveled to his heart.

“Namatay na siya sa hospital kasi nga ’yung bala na tumama sa kanya, ’yung pellet tumama sa buto, nag-slide papunta doon sa puso niya, at tinamaan ang puso na ’yun ang cause of death niya nung in-autopsy,” he said.

Police said the projectile recovered had no gunpowder and appeared similar to pellets used for hunting birds. Authorities believe the weapon used was an airgun.

“Airgun ang gamit, eh. Alam mo ’yung pang-baril ng ibon, ’yung iscupitan tawag doon eh, ’yung pang-ibon na bala. Hindi naman siya, walang pulbura ’yun eh, basta lead lang ’yun eh na pinormang bala,” Marcelo said.

No suspect has been arrested, but police said they have identified a person of interest. Investigators are also determining whether the individual was intoxicated at the time the shot was fired.

“Ongoing po yung monitoring natin ngayon dun sa POI natin at re-ready na rin po natin yung mga documentation for filing of appropriate charges dun sa ating POI,” Marcelo said.