By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — A late-night confrontation in Tondo erupted into a gun scare early Thursday after a man allegedly threatened to kill a woman, pulled out a handgun and ended up wounded when the firearm discharged during a struggle.
Police identified the suspect as Henry Ross Picar, 39, who was arrested at about 2 a.m. on August 13 along Almario Street in Dagupan, Barangay 50, Tondo, Manila.
The incident began after a commotion in the area was reportedly pacified by a barangay official. The complainant, identified as a 61-year-old woman, later told the police that she instructed Picar to go home.
Instead, according to the police report, the suspect allegedly became angry and threatened to kill her.
The complainant then woke a male relative and asked him to escort the suspect home.
But the situation reportedly escalated.
Police said Picar allegedly pulled a handgun from the left front pocket of his clothing while the witness was attempting to calm him down.
A woman identified as Loisa Valles, the witness’s sister, reportedly attempted to grab the firearm.
The gun suddenly went off
Picar fell to the ground and dropped the weapon, which was subsequently secured by the witness before barangay officials and police officers arrived.
The firearm was turned over to the arresting barangay official, who placed Picar under arrest with assistance from police personnel from Tayuman Police Community Precinct.
Police recovered a Glock 21C, bearing serial number CZV305, with a magazine containing nine live rounds of alleged .45-caliber ammunition, as well as one spent shell believed to be of the same caliber.
When police asked Picar to produce documents showing his legal authority to possess the firearm, he allegedly failed to present any.
The suspect was subsequently brought to Jose Abad Santos Police Station (PS-7) for investigation.
Police later noticed that Picar was bleeding from his right leg. He was rushed to Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, where doctors reportedly found that he had sustained a gunshot wound and a fractured leg and placed him under medical observation.
Despite the medical emergency, police said the suspect would face charges for Grave Threats under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, Alarm and Scandal under Article 155, and violations of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
The case is set to be filed before the City of Manila Prosecutor’s Office.
What began as a neighborhood disturbance in the early hours of the morning thus ended with a wounded suspect, a recovered handgun and criminal charges—another stark reminder of how quickly an ordinary confrontation can turn into a potentially deadly encounter when an unlicensed firearm enters the equation.
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