A tragic incident unfolded at a high school in the southern Philippines as a student armed with two pistols fatally shot a fellow student before taking his own life. The distressing event, live-streamed using a body-worn camera, marked the second school shooting in the country within a span of two months.
The shooting took place 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, opened fire at a teacher but missed before proceeding to shoot a student on the fourth floor. He then tragically ended his own life on the fifth floor of the building.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed that the assailant livestreamed the attack on Facebook Live, capturing moments from the staircase onward. Investigations will delve into the perpetrator’s gaming and chat history to understand the motives behind the tragic incident thoroughly.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect committed suicide after the shooting. The high school building where the violence occurred is situated within a secured campus separate from the main campus of the Catholic university. Ateneo de Zamboanga suspended classes across all levels in the aftermath of the incident.
Witness Joe Darryl Jaron, who was at the school during the shooting, captured the chaotic scene as students reacted in panic to the gunshots. 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. emphasized the importance of refraining from sharing unverified information, ensuring that accurate details surrounding the incident would be provided in due course.
The national police expressed its commitment to prioritizing the safety of the school community and acknowledged the cooperation of school authorities, parents, and the community in managing the crisis. Investigations revealed that one of the guns used in the shooting belonged to the suspect’s father, who could face administrative consequences for not securely storing the government-issued firearm.
Despite efforts to enhance security in schools following a previous school shooting, the tragic incident underscores the challenges posed by firearms-related crimes in the Philippines, where unlicensed firearms are prevalent. School shootings, while rare, have a profound impact on communities and highlight the ongoing need for vigilance and preventive measures.