Man killed by ricocheting pellets intended for brother

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 41-year-old man died after the gun pellets intended for his brother ricocheted and hit him.

The incident happened following a fight between brothers Joel Bautista and his younger brother, 34-year-old Daryl Bautista, at the latter’s house at Barangay South San Jose, Molo, Iloilo City around 10:10 p.m. on Dec. 3.

Joel suffered multiple pellet wounds on the lower left portion of the abdomen and died while undergoing treatment at the Western Visayas Medical Center shortly after midnight of Dec. 4.

Daryl, on the other hand, suffered pellet wounds on his right arm and is now recuperating at The Medical City.

Major Marlyn Roquero, Iloilo City Police Station 4 chief, said it was not immediately known what triggered the fight between the two brothers.

But it appeared that Joel, who was residing in Anini-y, Antique, attended a celebration at his sibling’s house.

Joel, Daryl, and several other companions were binge drinking when the two had an argument.

Their sister even tried to pacify the fight.

Joel, who is deemed as the suspect of the incident, left and returned shortly. This time, he was already armed with a pistol-type 12-gauge shotgun.

He allegedly aimed the gun towards Daryl’s house and pulled the trigger.

But the bullet hit a metal sheet and ricocheted hitting him and Daryl.

With Joel now dead, Roquero said the family has decided to consider the incident as case closed.

The family has also turned down the conduct of an autopsy.