A tragic incident unfolded at a high school campus in southern Philippines when a student armed with two pistols fatally shot a fellow student before taking his own life. The violent act was livestreamed using a body-worn camera, marking the second school shooting resulting in deaths within a span of two months in the country.
The distressing event occurred at the Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus in Zamboanga, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of students after gunshots were heard. Besides the fatalities, two individuals sustained injuries during the attack, as per reports from the police and city officials.
The perpetrator, identified as Mohammad Mael Jalani, a Grade 9 student, initially targeted a teacher in a classroom but missed the shot. He then proceeded to shoot a student on the fourth floor before ending his own life on the subsequent floor, according to the preliminary police report.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla detailed the sequence of events, stating, “He entered and started indiscriminately firing, hitting a Grade 10 student at the fourth floor then subsequently went to the fifth floor and jumped from the said building and committed suicide.” The assailant broadcasted the attack on Facebook Live, providing glimpses of the unfolding tragedy. Remulla emphasized the need for a comprehensive forensic analysis to understand the motive behind the incident.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso confirmed the act of self-inflicted gunshot by the suspect. The high school building where the violence occurred is within a secure campus section of the university. Ateneo suspended classes across all levels for two days following the incident.
Eyewitness Joe Darryl Jaron recounted the chaotic scene as gunshots echoed through the school premises, causing students to panic and seek safety. Police later declared the situation under control and urged parents and guardians to follow the school’s instructions for retrieving their children.
Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., the national police chief, assured that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. He urged the public to rely on verified information and refrain from spreading unconfirmed details that could cause unwarranted distress.
Regarding the firearms used in the attack, one of the pistols was traced back to the suspect’s father, a police commander. Bureau of Customs deputy commissioner Nolasco Bathan indicated that the father might face administrative consequences for failing to properly secure the government-issued weapon.
While gun-related crimes are prevalent in the Philippines due to illicit firearm circulation, school shootings remain infrequent. The recent incident occurred despite promises of enhanced school security following a previous shooting in Tacloban city, where multiple students were killed and injured. Two teenagers were arrested in connection with that earlier incident.