7-year-old girl dies two days after getting hit by celebratory bullet

January 2, 2013 3:25pm


(Updated 10:57 p.m.) She barely lived long enough to see 2013. The seven-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet at the height of the New Year revelry shortly after Monday midnight, succumbed to her injuries in a Quezon City hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Stephanie Nicole Ella, who was struck while watching New Year's Eve celebrations outside their Caloocan City home at around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, was only one of the 40 people hit by stray bullets from Dec. 21, 2012 to Jan. 2, 2013, according to figures from the Philippine National Police.

Dr. Emmanuel Bueno of the East Avenue Medical Center said Stephanie Nicole died at 2:26 p.m. after suffering her eighth cardiac arrest.

"Kaninang 2:26 ng hapon nai-declare natin si Nicole Ella na pumanaw, after the eighth cardiac arrest," Bueno said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Doctors tried to resuscitate Stephanie Nicole but her parents decided to stop the treatment, added Bueno. "Nag-decide ang tatay at nanay na tama na at hindi na makakabalik, itigil na, hindi na talaga makakabalik.”

Parents call for justice


Bueno said Stephanie Nicole's parents were devastated after losing their child to an act committed by an "irresponsible person." They have appealed to authorities to catch the perpetrator.

"Ang magulang masamang masama ang loob. Ang mahal na anak, bata pa, pumanaw na nang walang kakuwenta-kwenta, sa indiscriminate firing ng isang irresponsible person," Bueno said.

A separate report by dzBB's Glen Juego said Stephanie Nicole's parents and other relatives were emotional as they reiterated their call to the perpetrator to surface.

Reprehensible act


Malacañang immediately condoled with Stephanie Nicole's family as it described her death as "a sobering reminder of how a reprehensible act from a thoughtless individual can rob our people, particularly our children, of their futures."

"Together with the Filipino people, we extend our deepest sympathies to Stephanie’s family," said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a statement. "No one should experience the overwhelming heartbreak that her family is now enduring, especially during a season of celebration and hope."

Lacierda added: "For such a promising life to be lost in such a senseless way puts the burden on all of us to make certain that this tragedy is not repeated.We continue to call on all Filipinos: Let us consider the welfare of our countrymen by engaging in celebrations in a responsible and safe manner."

Investigation


Senior Inspector Leonilo Padulaga of the Caloocan police told radio dzBB Wednesday night that they had recieved permission and had performed an "autopsy" on the victim's body.

Their examination resulted in the recovery of a slug.

Padulaga added that he believed that the shooter discharged his weapon nearby from where Stephanie Nicole was shot.

Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, deputy district director for administration of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), had ealrier said the sources of stray bullets could be easily traced once the slugs were recovered. It's a different story, however, if the bullets came from unlicensed firearms.

"Kung ito (bullet) po'y nasa registered [firearm] na ipinutok, mas madali po dahil mayroon po tayong ballistic examination, mayroon tayong records ng ballistics po ng mga firearms na licensed. Pero kung ito po unlicensed firearms, medyo mahirap," Pagdilao said in an interview with "News To Go" on Wednesday.

He said cases of innocent bystanders hit by stray bullets are being looked into by their "trained and dedicated police investigators" as ordered by the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership.

"Maaaring ito (investigation) po'y mahirap pero hindi imposible sa mga trained at dedicated police investigators natin. At tsaka ito po yung kautusan ng ating kataas-taasan sa PNP na imbestigahan po at ituring na isang krimen itong insidente ng mga stray bullets," Pagdilao said.

To zero in on the gun owner whose stray bullet killed Stephanie Nicole, police investigators had sought an autopsy of the victim.

A report by dzBB's Glen Juego said Caloocan City police will try to convince Stephanie Nicole's family to autopsy her remains.

As of Wednesday afternoon, police said they have received at least four slugs from a cal-.45 pistol - one from a concerned citizen and three from local village watchmen.

But they still said they need to extract the stray bullet from the victim's body to see if it came from a civilian's licensed firearm or a police-issued firearm.

The police are also considering having police personnel living near the victim's house undergo paraffin tests.

A fighter


In an earlier interview, Bueno said they could not do much else other than place Stephanie Nicole on life support. "Nailagay na natin lahat na pangangailangan niya. Pati respirator and life support system lahat nariyan na," he said.

But at the time, he said Stephanie Nicole appeared to be fighting, and her family was supporting her. "Hindi naggi-give up ang pamilya, kami rin gusto namin siya maitawid."

The indiscriminate firing of guns has been a perennial problem in the Philippines during New Year celebrations despite efforts from authorities to stop the practice.

Days before New Year's eve, police sealed the muzzles of their firearms to prevent those who are not on duty from firing their weapons during the celebrations and also as a symbolic gesture against indiscriminate firing. — KBK/HS/DVM, GMA News