A POLICE officer was killed after he accidentally shot himself while cleaning his service firearm at his house in Sitio Lagang, Barangay Bolinawan, Carcar City at noon Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023.
Patrolman Efren delos Reyes Jr., 34, didn’t make it alive when he was brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City.
Lt. Col. Ardioleto Cabagnot, chief of the Carcar City Police Station, told SunStar Cebu that Delos Reyes sustained a single gunshot wound on the stomach.
Cabagnot said they initially received a call from Delos Reyes’ neighbor concerning the accidental shooting.
Screaming
Jocelyn, Delos Reyes’ wife, told police that she was at her house’s living room when she heard a loud bang inside their guest room.
After hearing the sound, Jocelyn heard her husband screaming for help inside the guest room.
Upon checking the room, Jocelyn and her father-in-law found Delos Reyes already lying in a pool of his own blood.
Jocelyn immediately asked her neighbors for help to bring Delos Reyes to the hospital.
Delos Reyes was brought to the Carcar City Provincial Hospital but was later transferred to VSMMC as his wound had become more severe. Delos Reyes, however, would die just before arriving at the hospital.
No foul play
Cabagnot said based on their initial investigation, Delos Reyes said the accident occurred after he tried to repair a lodged bullet in his gun.
“It was accidental, no foul play involved. He (Delos Reyes) was able to shout to his wife and father-in-law to bring him to the hospital,” Cabagnot said in Cebuano.
But Cabagnot urged Delos Reyes’ family to have the latter’s body autopsied if they have doubts over his death.
De los Reyes, who was assigned in Talisay City, was off duty at the time of the incident, his wife told police.
She told police that Delos Reyes often slept in their guest room when he was off duty.
Probe
Separately, officials of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO 7) are set to conduct a probe to determine if there was foul play in Delos Reyes’ death.
Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson for PRO 7 Director Brig. Gen. Jerry Bearis, told reporters that personnel from the Regional Internal Affairs Services (Rias) will initiate an investigation.
Pelare said if necessary, they will initiate a forensic examination on Delos Reyes if his family will allow it.
Pelare also urged their personnel to always be careful when it comes to cleaning their firearms as a way to prevent harm upon themselves or their loved ones. (GPL, AYB / JKV)