A tragic incident unfolded at a high school campus in southern Philippines when a student, armed with two pistols, fatally shot a fellow student and then took his own life, all while livestreaming the attack using a body-worn camera. This marked the second deadly school shooting in the country within a span of two months.
The shooting occurred at the Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus in Zamboanga City, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of students after gunshots were heard in the school building. Two individuals sustained injuries during the incident.
The perpetrator, identified as Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani, first 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, according to police reports.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla disclosed that the assailant livestreamed the attack on Facebook Live, showing glimpses of the unfolding violence. Authorities plan to investigate the suspect’s online activities to understand the motive behind the tragic event.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso confirmed that the suspect shot himself. The high school building where the shooting occurred is within a secure campus, distinct from the larger university campus in Zamboanga. As a precaution, Ateneo suspended classes at all levels for two days following the incident.
Eyewitness Joe Darryl Jaron captured the chaotic scene on video, depicting students fleeing in panic after the gunshots rang out. Police later confirmed that the situation was under control and urged parents and guardians to follow the school’s instructions for picking up their children.
National police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. assured the public of ongoing efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and urged against spreading unverified information that could cause unnecessary alarm.
In a concerning revelation, it was disclosed that one of the pistols used in the shooting belonged to the suspect’s father, a police commander. The Bureau of Customs recommended the temporary suspension of the father for failing to secure the government-issued firearm properly.
While gun-related crimes are not uncommon in the Philippines due to the prevalence of unlicensed firearms, school shootings remain rare. This incident occurred despite police assurances of heightened security in schools following a previous shooting in Tacloban city in June.
The community is urged to remain vigilant as authorities continue to address the aftermath of this devastating event.