A tragic incident unfolded at a high school in the southern Philippines when a student armed with two pistols fatally shot a fellow student before taking his own life. The harrowing incident, which was livestreamed using a body-worn camera, marked the second school shooting in the country in just two months.
Following the sound of gunshots at the Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus in Zamboanga City, hundreds of students were evacuated as police and city officials responded to the scene. The assailant, identified as Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani, targeted a teacher but missed before fatally shooting a student on the fourth floor and then committing suicide on the fifth floor.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed that the attacker broadcasted the attack on Facebook Live, providing glimpses of the events leading up to the tragedy. Authorities are now delving into the assailant’s gaming and chat history to uncover potential motives behind the deadly assault.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso confirmed that the suspect took his own life following the shooting. The high school building where the incident occurred is part of a secure campus, separate from the main campus of the university. In response to the tragedy, Ateneo suspended classes at all levels for two days.
Eyewitness Joe Darryl Jaron captured the chaos on video, depicting the panic and fear that gripped the school as the gunshots echoed through the halls. Police later assured the public that the situation was contained and urged parents and guardians to follow instructions for picking up their children.
The national police chief, Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., emphasized the ongoing efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding the shooting. He urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information that could cause unnecessary alarm.
In a concerning revelation, it was disclosed that one of the pistols used by the suspect belonged to his father, a police commander. The Bureau of Customs deputy commissioner recommended the father’s temporary suspension pending administrative charges for negligence in safeguarding the government-issued firearm.
While gun-related crimes are not uncommon in the Philippines due to the widespread availability of unlicensed firearms, school shootings remain relatively rare. This tragic incident comes on the heels of a previous school shooting in June, underscoring the need for enhanced security measures in educational institutions across the country.
