Authorities are continuing to piece together the circumstances behind a fatal shooting in Tondo, Manila, where a woman was struck by a stray bullet while spending the holidays in her boyfriend’s neighborhood. Investigators confirmed that gunfire erupted in the area on Thursday, though details about those involved remain under review.
Footage aired on 24 Oras showed a sudden burst of panic in Barangay 120 as residents who had been gathered outside their homes scattered in different directions. In the same video, the victim could be seen running amid the chaos before collapsing.
Police said the woman sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder, with the bullet reportedly passing through her lung. Companions initially believed she had only been grazed by the projectile, but her condition quickly worsened. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was later declared dead.
Residents described hearing what they first assumed were loud firecrackers before realizing the sounds were gunshots. “Narinig na lang po namin yung putok na sunod-sunod. Akala namin nung una paputok lang na malakas lang po. Pero nung sunod-sunod na po, doon na kami nataranta,” one resident said.
Evidence collected at the scene included bullet marks on a nearby wall and damage to a tricycle parked along the street, reinforcing accounts that multiple shots were fired.
The Manila Police District has so far declined to issue a detailed statement, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. Speaking for the National Capital Region Police Office, Police Major Hazel Asilo said investigators believe two individuals exchanged gunfire in the area, resulting in the woman being hit by a stray bullet. “Mayroon naman po tayong pagkakakilanlan pero sa ngayon patuloy pa rin po ang ating ginagawang imbestigasyon para matukoy kung sino ang mga salarin,” she said.
