Woman killed as fiancé’s gun accidentally goes off

A woman who is about to get married next month was killed after she was hit when the gun her Australian fiancé was toying accidentally went off Monday evening.

The incident happened inside the couple’s rented unit at Kevin’s Apartment along Justice Street in Peace Valley, barangay Lahug.

Police investigators identified the victim as Trishia Jocec Baisac, 30, a businesswoman engaged in selling various items. Her fiancé was identified as 32-year-old Paul Anton Smith, an English language teacher in Sydney, Australia.

Smith rushed the victim to the Chong Hua Hospital but she was declared dead on arrival from a single gunshot wound in her left chest.

Smith peacefully submitted himself to PO3 Rogelio Nedamo, PO3 Audie Pelayo and PO3 Henry Estoy of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office who responded to the alarm.

Police investigation showed that Smith was playing with a .9 millimeter Glock pistol when it accidentally went off and hit Baisac.

Smith hurriedly went downstairs and asked assistance from their houseboys Ferry Jun Estac and Faustino Atienza, Jr. They then rushed the victim to the hospital.

Investigators from the CCPO’s Scene of the Crime Operation led by PO3 Ronald Manolong recovered from the room of the couple the Glock pistol with two magazines of bullets, a knife, another ten live bullets of the pistol and a t-shirt with bloodstains.

Police also took a box containing several Rolex wristwatches that are reportedly among the items that the victim sold in her business.

Smith, when interviewed by The Freeman, said he is terribly sorry for what happened, adding that he and Baisac were already engaged for more than a year and are planning to get married next month.

After the police filed a homicide case against him yesterday, Smith is reportedly set to post bail for his temporary release. — Edwin Ian Melecio/LPM