Boy, 12, shoots cousin, 4, dead using toy gun

The locals call it saplong. But it’s an improvised gas-operated replica loaded with a marble, which hit the girl’s chest.

HOMICIDE OFFICER ROMMEL BANCOG

A 4-year-old girl died after her 12-year-old cousin accidentally shot her with an improvised toy gun in the mountain barangay of Adlaon, Cebu City last Monday afternoon.

SPO2 Rommel Bancog, investigator of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said that the two were from Lower Tugbongan, Consolacion and were visiting their grandfather’s house for the summer.

“The locals call it saplong. But it’s an improvised gas-operated replica loaded with marble which hit the girl’s left chest,” Bancog said.

The marble pierced the girl’s heart and was embedded there, Bancog said.

The victim was rushed to the Guba Emergency Hospital where she was declared dead.

Bancog said that the social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWD) would be the one to assess the 12-year-old boy who was the one who accidentally shot the victim.

“He seemed to be in shock. He may have to go counseling or stress debriefing but since he’s a minor, we can’t file a case against him,” Bancog said.

The two children were first degree cousins.