This developed as a follow-up team of the Western Police District (WPD)’s Homicide Section fanned out to the northern part of the metropolis following information that the grenade thrower was sighted in the area.
"Hopefully, the suspect will be arrested in 24 hours. Barring unforeseen circumstances, police are closing in on the suspect now, with his arrest just in a matter of time," Homicide Section chief Senior Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr. said.
A source privy to the ongoing investigation told The STAR the possible motive for the grenade throwing was revenge since there were reports that the suspect has a feud with the owner of the apartment unit where the grenade exploded.
"It’s was retaliation against the suspect’s enemy, including the house occupants," the source said. He did not elaborate, pending the arrest of the suspect.
The fatalities were identified as Carl Mark Gutierrez, three years old; Maymay Guayan, also three years old; and her baby brother Ronnie, seven months old; and the family’s 18-year-old housemaid Josienith.
The bodies of the housemaid and the three-year-old Guayan absorbed most of the grenade’s shrapnel and died on the spot. The baby was declared dead on arrival at the UERM Hospital, while Carl Mark died at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.
Most of the victims, all surnamed Gutierrez, sustained multiple shrapnel wounds in their bodies.
Those injured were identified as Carlos, 70; Gloria, 63; Nora, 32; Princess Ann, six; Aaron, five; Rannie, seven months old; and Zoraida Guayan, 28.
Investigations disclosed that the victims were watching television at the ground floor of a house owned by one Andy Gutierrez at 2000-F Legarda street, Sampaloc past 7:30 p.m. when the suspect lobbed the grenade which exploded, hitting the unaware occupants.
The owner was outside the house at the time of the explosion, police said.
Neighbors tried to arrest the unidentified suspect, but he was able to escape by boarding a passing FX megataxi.
He was described as around 30 years old, at least five-foot-five tall, sporting short hair and a moustache and medium built. Witnesses saw the suspect wearing a sleeveless shirt and maong pants at the time of the incident.
Operatives of the WPD’s Explosives and Ordnance Division is still determining what type of grenade the suspect threw inside the house. They recovered a second grenade which failed to explode.