Breeder accused of shooting boy freed

POLICE released the gamefowl breeder accused of shooting and wounding a 16-year-old boy working in his breeding farm in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

Police said the complainant executed an affidavit of desistance that led to the release of Victor Aznar Sierra, 37, a resident of barangay Pardo, Cebu City.

Sierra’s lawyer, Noel Archival, said the businessman did not intentionally shoot the boy.

Archival said Sierra and the boy had a minor altercation past 2 p.m. Tuesday.

The lawyer said the two grappled for a .9mm pistol but the gun accidentally went off, hitting the boy in the right leg.

“Gamay ra ning ilang problema. Naa ra ni silay misunderstanding (This is just a minor problem. They had just a misunderstanding,” the lawyer said.

“Suod kaayo ning duha unya maayo sad kaayo mobuhi og manok kanang bataa (They are very close and the boy is very good in taking care of fighting cocks),” said Archival.

But based on the blotter at the homicide section of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), the boy claimed Sierra scolded him after he failed to put water in the egg incubator.

The boy said Sierra fired a warning shot and threatened to kill him.

The boy said he threw an empty paint can at his employer who allegedly retaliated by shooting him in the leg.

The boy jumped over the fence and went to the barangay Subangdaku police station in Mandaue City to seek help.

Police arrested Sierra in the farm where the 9mm caliber pistol was recovered.

Police later brought Sierra to the Sacred Heart Hospital after he complained of an asthma attack.

Senior Insp. Errol Deveyra, chief of the homicide section, said charges were not filed against Sierra after the witnesses and the boy retracted their statement.

Police said Sierra agreed to shoulder the boy’s hospital expenses./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON