A tragic incident unfolded at a high school in the southern Philippines on Tuesday when a student armed with two pistols fatally shot a fellow student before taking his own life. The shooting, which was livestreamed using a body-worn camera, occurred at the Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus in Zamboanga City. This marked the second deadly school shooting in the country within two months.
Following the sound of gunshots, hundreds of students were evacuated from the high school building, and two others sustained injuries during the attack. According to police reports, the perpetrator, identified as Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani, attempted to shoot a teacher but missed, then proceeded to shoot a student on the fourth floor before ending his own life on the fifth floor.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed that the assailant broadcasted the attack on Facebook Live, capturing moments leading up to the tragedy. Investigations into the shooter’s online activities, including gaming and chat histories, are ongoing to understand the motive behind the violent act.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso confirmed the suicide of the suspect and emphasized that the incident took place within a secured section of the university campus. Ateneo de Zamboanga suspended classes across all levels for two days following the shooting.
In response to the incident, the national police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. assured the public of prioritizing the safety of the school community. The police are working to ascertain the factors surrounding the tragedy and urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information that could cause unnecessary alarm.
It was revealed that one of the pistols used by the perpetrator belonged to his father, a police commander. The Bureau of Customs deputy commissioner Nolasco Bathan disclosed that the father could face administrative charges for failing to secure the government-issued firearm properly.
Despite efforts to enhance school security following a previous school shooting in June, where three students were killed and several others injured, this incident underscores the challenges in preventing such tragedies in the Philippines. The country faces issues with unlicensed firearms, contributing to a higher rate of gun-related crimes.