Many families welcomed the new year with great hopes and happiness, but for two families, there was only despair.
Seven-year old Stephanie Nicole Ella has just died at the East Avenue Medical Center after she was hit in the head by a stray bullet at 12:15 a.m. of Jan. 1 while watching a fireworks display with her family outside of their home in Caloocan City.
The bullet entered through the top of Nicole’s head and is now lodged at the back of her left eye. Doctors say it is not possible to take the bullet out while her brain is still swollen.
The shooter is still currently at large and Nicole’s family is calling on the person to step up and take responsibility.
Meanwhile, in Mandaluyong City, the family of four-year old Ranjilo Nemer is grieving the loss of their son. Ranjilo went to his cousin’s home nearby to make use of their bathroom at 9 p.m. of Dec. 31 and never came back.
A witness, Ramon Elbambuena, recounted that he saw a man walking down the street with a homemade gun called a “sumpak.” Elbambuena said that he saw the man tap the gun and heard a shot, then he saw the boy rolling on the street.
The shooter, identified as Emmanuel Janabon, allegedly ran towards the boy and shouted that he did not mean it before running towards home, never to be seen again. A manhunt operation is now being undertaken to find him, Inquirer News reported.
