A tragic incident unfolded in a high school campus in southern Philippines as a student, armed with two pistols, fatally shot a fellow student before taking his own life. The distressing event, which was livestreamed using a body-worn camera, marked the country’s second deadly school shooting within a span of two months.
The attack took place at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus in Zamboanga City, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of students after gunshots echoed through the high school building. Two additional individuals sustained injuries during the incident, according to authorities.
The perpetrator, identified as Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani, first targeted a teacher but missed, proceeding to shoot a student on the fourth floor before ending his own life on the fifth floor, as detailed in the initial police report.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla informed the media that the assailant initiated the indiscriminate firing, striking a Grade 10 student before eventually committing suicide by jumping from the building. The disturbing sequence of events was partially broadcasted on Facebook Live, revealing glimpses of the tragedy.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso confirmed the suspect’s self-inflicted gunshot wound. The high school building, where the violence transpired, remains within a segregated campus, distinct from the larger facilities of the Catholic university. Following the incident, classes at all levels were temporarily suspended at Ateneo.
Witness Joe Darryl Jaron recounted the chaos that ensued as gunshots pierced the air, causing a frenzy among students seeking refuge. Authorities swiftly responded to the scene, reassuring parents and guardians of the students’ safety and urging adherence to the school’s directives for student retrieval.
Amid ongoing investigations, national police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. emphasized the importance of verifying information before dissemination, cautioning against sharing unconfirmed reports that could provoke needless alarm.
Furthermore, it was revealed that one of the pistols used by the perpetrator belonged to his father, a Bureau of Customs police commander. The father may face administrative repercussions for the improper handling of the government-issued firearm.
Despite efforts to bolster school security following a previous school shooting in June, incidents involving firearms persist in the Philippines, underscoring the prevalence of unlicensed weapons in the country. School shootings, however, remain infrequent, with authorities striving to prevent such tragic occurrences in educational settings.