‘Accidental’ gunfire injures minor girl

CEBU, Philippines – He was only playing with his gun. Now, a man in San Fernando town may be facing frustrated homicide charges.

Fredceilo Generalao, of legal age, was said to be just playing with a .38 caliber revolver Monday noon in their house in Sitio Kalapayan, Barangay Tubod when he accidentally pulled back its hammer that triggered it to fire.

In the process, a 15-year-old girl living in the house was hit in the right leg.

Police Officer 2 Jose Claire Palagtiosa, investigator of the case, said Generalao arrived in the house at around 1 p.m. and then allegedly "played" with the gun.

In fact, Palagtiosa added, there was even a point when Generalao pointed the firearm to his wife and the latter reportedly told him not to do so.

But Generalao did not stop there; he continued to play with the revolver until he accidentally pulled the hammer down that prompted it to fire.

At that time, the girl was about to leave the house when she suddenly felt numbness in her right leg. When she looked, she was already bleeding, police said.

The victim is temporarily living in the house after having settled with her boyfriend, who is a grandchild of the house's owner. Generalao, on the other hand, is said to be the uncle of the girl's boyfriend.

The minor was immediately brought to the hospital while Generalao, who reportedly injured his left hand, fled from the scene.

The girl's parents later went to the police station and told police officers that they were interested in filing a complaint against the suspect once the child will be discharged from the hospital.

Palagtiosa, meanwhile, said the subject gun, which was not recovered by the police at the crime scene, was not likely licensed.

The suspect will be charged with frustrated homicide in relation to the Comprehensive Firearms Regulation Act, according to the police.