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 event, which was livestreamed using a body-worn camera, marked the second school shooting resulting in death in the country within two months.
The shooting occurred at the Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus in Zamboanga City, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of students after gunshots were heard in the high school building. Two individuals sustained injuries during the attack.
The perpetrator, identified as Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani, initially targeted a teacher but missed, then proceeded to shoot a student on the fourth floor before committing suicide on the fifth floor, according to police reports.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed that the assailant broadcasted the attack on Facebook Live, showing snippets of the incident. Investigations will delve into the suspect’s gaming and chat history to understand the motive behind the tragic events.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso confirmed that the suspect took his own life. The high school building where the shooting occurred is within a secure campus separate from the main university campus, leading to the suspension of classes at Ateneo following the incident.
Witness Joe Darryl Jaron captured the chaos on video after hearing gunshots while dropping off his child at the school. Police later declared the situation under control and urged parents to follow instructions for picking up their children.
Authorities are currently probing the circumstances surrounding the incident, with national police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. emphasizing the importance of sharing verified information to avoid unnecessary panic.
It was disclosed that one of the pistols used by the suspect belonged to his father, a Bureau of Customs police commander in Zamboanga. The father may face administrative charges for not properly securing the government-issued firearm.
While gun-related crimes are prevalent in the Philippines due to unlicensed firearms, school shootings remain rare. The incident occurred despite previous assurances to boost school security after a deadly shooting in June that claimed three lives in Tacloban city. Two students were arrested for their involvement in that earlier incident.