Cop dies after firing own gun

A POLICEMAN was killed when he accidentally hit himself after firing his firearm inside his house in Purok Puentebella, Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, Wednesday morning.

Bacolod City Police Office Director Ricardo De la Paz identified the victim as SPO1 Fernando De Vera, of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and who was assigned at the Crime Laboratory.

Investigation showed that around 6:30 a.m., the victim accidentally fired his 9mm service firearm inside his house and he was hit in the mouth.

He said the victim was rushed to the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival by his attending physician.

De la Paz said that before the incident, there were reportedly several attempts by robbers to enter the residence of De Vera where the cop has a piggery and fighting cocks.

The neighbors of the victim said that between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. of Wednesday, they heard a gunshot from the residence of De Vera.

De la Paz said the wife of the victim told them that it was his husband who fired his firearm because there were suspected robbers outside their house.

The police theorized that because of the robbery attempts, De Vera was on alert and accidentally hit himself when he fired his gun.

De la Paz said they asked the Scene of the Crime Operatives to process the crime scene. The 9mm firearm of De Vera will also be subjected to ballistic test.

The police director said they will also conduct a paraffin test on the victim to ensure that there is no foul play in said incident.