In a tragic incident on Tuesday, a high school student in a southern Philippine high school campus shot and killed a fellow student before taking his own life. The incident, which was livestreamed using a body-worn camera, marked the second deadly school shooting in the country within two months.
The shooting took place at Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus in Zamboanga, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of students. Two individuals sustained injuries during the attack.
The perpetrator, identified as Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani, first targeted a teacher but missed, then fatally shot a student on the fourth floor before committing suicide on the fifth floor of the building.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed that the attacker filmed the assault on Facebook Live, capturing moments before the tragic events unfolded. Authorities plan to investigate the suspect’s online gaming and chat history to ascertain the motive behind the shooting.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso confirmed that the suspect shot himself during the incident. Ateneo de Zamboanga, one of the leading universities in the region, suspended classes at all levels following the attack.
Despite the tragic occurrence, police assured the public of prioritizing the safety of the school community. The suspect reportedly obtained one of the pistols from his father, a Bureau of Customs police commander, who may face administrative charges for failing to secure the government-issued firearm properly.
While the Philippines has a high rate of firearm-related crimes, school shootings are uncommon. The recent incident comes after heightened security measures were promised following a previous school shooting in Tacloban city, where three students were killed and several others injured in June.