A tragic incident unfolded at a high school in the southern Philippines when a student armed with two pistols fatally shot another student before taking his own life. The distressing event, which was live-streamed using a body-worn camera, occurred at the Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus in Zamboanga City. This marks the second school shooting resulting in death within a span of two months in the country.
Following the gunshots at the high school building, hundreds of students were evacuated, and two individuals sustained injuries, as confirmed by police and city officials. The assailant, identified as Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani, attempted to shoot a teacher but missed before tragically taking the life of a student on the fourth floor. Subsequently, he proceeded to a higher floor and ended his own life.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla disclosed that the attacker initiated the indiscriminate shooting, injuring a Grade 10 student on the fourth floor before committing suicide on the fifth floor of the building. The perpetrator live-streamed the attack on Facebook Live, providing glimpses of the unfolding tragedy. Authorities are conducting a detailed investigation, including analyzing the suspect’s gaming and chat history to ascertain the motives behind the incident.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso and law enforcement confirmed that the suspect ultimately shot himself. The high school building where the tragedy occurred is situated within a separate, secure campus of the Ateneo de Zamboanga university, which has suspended classes across all levels in the wake of the incident. The university, known for its esteemed reputation, is located in Zamboanga and houses various colleges and professional schools.
Eyewitness Joe Darryl Jaron captured the chaotic scene after dropping off his child at the school and shared a video on social media, highlighting the panic and urgency among students following the gunshots. Law enforcement later declared that the situation was under control, urging parents and guardians to remain composed and adhere to the school’s instructions for picking up their children.
The national police chief, Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., assured the public of ongoing efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Authorities emphasized the importance of refraining from sharing unverified reports or media that could incite unnecessary alarm.
In a concerning revelation, it was disclosed that one of the pistols used by the assailant belonged to his father, a police commander with the Bureau of Customs in Zamboanga. The deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customs, Nolasco Bathan, indicated that the father might face administrative consequences for failing to securely store the government-issued firearm.
While the Philippines grapples with a prevalence of firearm-related crimes due to the circulation of unlicensed weapons, school shootings remain relatively uncommon. The recent incident occurred despite previous assurances from law enforcement regarding enhanced school security following a deadly shooting in June in Tacloban city, where three students lost their lives and several others were injured. Police arrested two students in connection with that earlier incident.