Boy hurt in 'Russian roulette'

MANILA, Philippines - A 15-year-old boy shot himself in the head while playing a game of “Russian roulette” with another boy in Barangay Tonsuya, Malabon City Sunday night.

Eddie Lloyd Homo was reported to be comatose at the Manila Central University Hospital.

Watchman Jose Mondares said Homo was watching television at the house of a neighbor, Alfredo Celo, with his 16-year-old friend when they found a .38 caliber revolver under a bench they were sitting on.

Mondares said the boys unloaded the gun, then played with it. Homo shot at the floor, but the gun did not fire. He handed the weapon to his playmate, who pointed it at Homo’s head. Homo dared his friend to squeeze the trigger. His friend obliged and hit Homo in the head.

Barangay watchmen apprehended Homo’s friend and Celo, who admitted owning the unlicensed handgun. He told police he threw the gun at the back of his house but investigators failed to find the weapon.