House to house search on for Stephanie Nicole's killer

MANILA, Philippines - The Caloocan City Police Office on Thursday started a "house to house" investigation as it intensified its hunt for the person who indiscriminately fired a gun on New Year's Eve that killed seven-year-old Stephanie Nicole Ella.

Superintendent Jack Candelario, spokesperson of the Caloocan City police, said that the house-to-house investigation was requested by Mayor Recom Echiverri who has been asking his constituents to cooperate in the police's investigation for the immediate arrest of the owner of the gun that killed Ella.

Candelario said that Caloocan City police investigators started the house to house investigation on Wednesday night.

He said that they have already interviewed at least 80 house owners in barangays 180, 185 and 186.

Candelario said that police investigators already have a list of gun owners from the three barangays, including private gun owners and members of the police force.

He said the house to house investigation will continue until all households near the Ella's residence in Barangay 185, Malaria district, are interviewed by the police.

The police have yet to determine the type of bullet that struck Ella in the head on New Year's Eve. The girl was watching fireworks with his family outside their home along San Lorenzo Ruiz Street when she was struck by the stray bullet.

The girl died after eight cardiac arrests at the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City on Wednesday afternoon.

Ella is the second fatality from a stray bullet during the New Year's celebrations. Four-year-old Ranjelo Nimer died after being hit by a bullet from a homemade shotgun fired by his neighbor in Mandaluyong City during the New Year's Eve revelry.

Another stray-bullet victim, a 16-year-old boy has also slipped into a coma in Surigao City. The teenager has been transferred to a hospital in Butuan City.

Saturation drive

Heeding the call for help of the Ella family, several residents of Caloocan City turned over to the police slugs that they recovered after the New Year's Eve revelry.

Candelario said that the police and the family of the girl appreciate the help coming from the concerned residents.

"We thank concerned citizens for helping us solve the case by giving possible evidence," Candelario said.

He said the slugs have been brought to the crime laboratory for analysis.

Candelario appealed to the public anew to continue providing police information that may help them solve Ella's case.

Meanwhile, Echiverri said that he will ask the National Capital Region Police Office to order a "saturation drive" in Malaria district and nearby areas to hasten the investigations to identify the owner of the gun that killed the girl.

The mayor said that the city police force has also started meeting with barangay officials to inform them of the planned saturation drive.

During saturation drives, policemen round up residents and search their homes for illegal items.