Boy, 7, playing with gun, accidentally shoots uncle

CEBU, Philippines - A seven-year-old boy played with a gun which accidentally went off and hit his teenage uncle in Barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City last Saturday night.

John Kevin Pogado, 19, a 3rd year College student, was hit on his back. The bullet exited on his stomach and was then stuck on his left forearm.

According to SPO1 Esmer Escultor of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office, the boy found the gun kept beneath the bed of his other uncle, Juanito Pogado, Jr. He then played with it, thinking it was a toy gun.

Around 10:30 pm last Saturday, Escultor said the boy, the victim, and the rest of their family were gathered at the ground floor of their two-storey house to plan for the victim’s birthday next month. They were supposed to call a sister working abroad.

The victim was a few distance away from the group as he was using the computer.

The boy, a grade two pupil, was behind him playing with the gun when it suddenly went off.

Escultor said nobody among the group noticed the boy holding the gun except for Juanito’s friend who was also with them that night.

“Nakabantay ang barkada niya nga nagduwa ang bata og pusil. Iya na untang badlungon, mao pu’y pag-aksyon og buto,” Escultor told The FREEMAN.

The victim was rushed to the Cebu Doctors Hospital while Juanito turned over the gun to the responding policemen.

“Sa iyaha daw uncle na namatay na kadtong pusil. Mura’g tinuod sad iyang gisulti kay karaan na man kaayo ang pusil,” Escultor said.

Juanito voluntarily submitted himself to a paraffin test while the gun, a licensed caliber .38 snubnose revolver, was subjected to a ballistic test.

Escultor said the victim was still conscious when he was brought to the hospital. Not a single vital part of his body was hit, he further said.

The police officer said they submitted a spot report to the barangay. — (FREEMAN)