11-month-old baby shot dead

Booze and guns form a very dangerous mix.

An 11-month-old boy was killed after he was accidentally shot by his drunken uncle in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday afternoon.

Homicide probers identified the suspect as Alvin Talave, 22, native of Lubag, Cabagan, Isabela, while the victim was Love Raindille Lago.

According to investigators, Talave and his brother Gaspar, said to be a policeman detailed in Camp Crame, were drinking at the victim’s house at 11 a.m. yesterday. Probers said the Lagos and Talaves are related.

At about 1:30 p.m., the victim’s nanny, Alice Umayam, 27, saw the suspect enter the room where the victim was in a cradle. She then saw the suspect draw out a gun from his waist and placed it on the floor.

She then saw the suspect pick-up the gun and moments later, a shot rang out. Umayam then saw her ward wounded on the left arm.

The baby was rushed to the De Ocampo Medical Center in Nagtahan but was declared dead on arrival. Homicide probers arrested the suspect at the medical center.

Police said the bullet entered through the left arm and exited through his chest. – Mike Frialde