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, which was live-streamed using a body-worn camera, marked the second fatal school shooting in the country within a span of two months.
Upon hearing gunshots in the high school building of the Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus in Zamboanga city, hundreds of students were swiftly evacuated. In the chaos, two others sustained injuries, as confirmed by police and city officials.
The assailant, identified as Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani, initially targeted a teacher but missed, before fatally shooting a student on the fourth floor. Subsequently, he proceeded to the fifth floor where he tragically took his own life, as per the initial 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 perpetrator live-streamed parts of the attack on Facebook Live, prompting an investigation into his online activities for a deeper understanding of his motives.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso and the police confirmed the assailant’s self-inflicted gunshot wound. The high school building, where the tragic incident occurred, is situated within a secure campus, distinct from the larger campus housing the university’s colleges and professional schools. In response to the tragedy, Ateneo suspended classes at all levels for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Eye-witness Joe Darryl Jaron captured the chaotic scene following the gunshots, which led to students seeking safety amid panic. Despite the initial turmoil, police later declared the situation under control, urging parents and guardians to follow the school’s guidance for picking up their children.
Authorities emphasized the ongoing investigation into the incident while urging the public to refrain from sharing unverified information that could incite unnecessary alarm. The national police chief, Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., reassured the community of their commitment to prioritizing the safety and well-being of the school community.
It was disclosed that one of the pistols used by the perpetrator belonged to his father, a Bureau of Customs police commander in Zamboanga. The father may face administrative repercussions for failing to secure the government-issued weapon properly. Although firearm-related crimes are prevalent in the Philippines due to the abundance of unlicensed firearms, school shootings remain uncommon.
This tragic event occurred despite assurances from the authorities to bolster security in schools nationwide following a previous shooting in June that claimed the lives of three high school students in central Tacloban city. Two students, aged 14 and 15, were apprehended in connection with that incident.
