Cop’s gun accidentally goes off, kills his 1-year-old son
SAN JOSE CITY – A one-year-old son of a police patrolman died after getting shot in the chest when the lawman’s pistol accidentally went off as it fell to the ground here on Thursday night.
City police head Lt. Col. Marlon M. Cudal said they were alerted by a phone call from the San Jose City General Hospital here about a child with a gunshot wound who was declared dead on arrival after being rushed to the emergency ward at 8:30 p.m.
Cudal said his investigators found out after talking to the father, identified as Patrolman Crisdie Manuel, 33, of Zone 5, Bgy. Palestina, that his son, the youngest among three children, sustained the gunshot wound after his cal.9mm pistol accidentally fell and went off, hitting the boy in the chest.
The incident transpired when he went home aboard his motorcycle after allegedly having a drink of one bottle of beer with a neighbor at 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, provincial police officer-in-charge Col. Richard V. Caballero condoled with the boy’s family.
“We are saddened by this unfortunate incident. We all know that no father would endure the pain of losing his child in such a tragic manner. However, we have to follow the rule of law to give justice to the victim, whoever the involved is,” said Caballero.
He said more seminars and trainings pertaining to gun safety and responsible gun ownership will be conducted for their police officers to avoid similar incidents.
Cudal said the lawman has already turned over his service firearm after voluntarily surrendering at the station here.
He will be slapped with charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide before the city prosecutor’s office and also face administrative charges at the Internal Affairs Service.
