A tragic incident unfolded at a high school in Zamboanga, Philippines, where a student armed with two pistols fatally shot another student before taking his own life. The shooter, identified as Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani, also injured two other individuals in the attack, which was livestreamed using a body-worn camera. This marks the second school shooting incident in the country within a span of two months.
Following the gunshots at Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus, hundreds of students were evacuated from the high school building in the southern port city. The assailant first fired at a teacher but missed, then proceeded to shoot a student on the fourth floor before ultimately ending his own life on the fifth floor.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed that the shooter broadcasted the attack on Facebook Live, showing snippets of the events leading up to the tragedy. Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation, including analyzing the suspect’s gaming and chat history, to understand the motive behind the violent act.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso confirmed that the suspect took his own life, bringing a sense of shock and sorrow to the community. Ateneo de Zamboanga University suspended classes across all levels for two days in response to the incident.
The gun incident occurred within a secured section of the university campus, distinct from the main campus housing the institution’s colleges and professional schools. Despite the tragedy, police assured the public of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and security of the school community.
The shooter reportedly obtained one of the pistols from his father, a Bureau of Customs police commander, who may face administrative repercussions for not properly securing the government-issued weapon. While firearm-related crimes are not uncommon in the Philippines due to the prevalence of unlicensed firearms, school shootings remain infrequent.
This tragic event comes in the wake of heightened security measures promised by authorities following a previous school shooting in Tacloban city earlier in the year, where three students lost their lives and many others were injured. The police arrested two students in connection with that incident, underscoring the need for continued vigilance in maintaining school safety nationwide.