In a tragic incident at a high school campus in the southern Philippines, a student armed with two pistols fatally shot a fellow student before taking his own life. The shooting, which was livestreamed using a body-worn camera, occurred at the Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus in Zamboanga City. This marked the second school shooting resulting in death in the country within a span of two months.
Following the shooting, hundreds of students were evacuated from the high school building, with two additional individuals sustaining injuries. The perpetrator, identified as Mohammad Mael Jalani, a Grade 9 student, initially targeted a teacher but missed before shooting a student on the fourth floor and ultimately committing suicide on the fifth floor.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla disclosed that the assailant livestreamed the attack on Facebook Live, starting from his ascent up the stairs. Authorities plan to investigate the suspect’s gaming and chat history to uncover the motive behind the tragic incident.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso confirmed that the perpetrator died by suicide. The high school building where the shooting occurred is situated within a secure campus distinct from the larger campus of the Catholic university. In response to the attack, Ateneo suspended classes at all levels for two days.
Joe Darryl Jaron, who had just dropped off his child at the school, captured the chaos on video as gunshots rang out, prompting students to panic and seek safety. Law enforcement later declared the situation under control and urged parents to follow the school’s instructions for picking up their children.
National police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. emphasized that authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and cautioned against sharing unverified information that could cause undue alarm.
Regarding the firearms used in the shooting, one of the pistols belonged to the suspect’s father, a police commander with the Bureau of Customs in Zamboanga. The father may face administrative repercussions for failing to secure the government-issued firearm properly.
Although the Philippines grapples with firearm-related crimes due to the prevalence of unlicensed weapons, school shootings are infrequent. The recent incident occurred despite promises to bolster school security following a previous school shooting in Tacloban city, where three students were killed and many more injured. Two students, aged 14 and 15, were apprehended in connection with that incident.
Overall, the community and authorities are prioritizing the safety and welfare of the school community during this challenging time, emphasizing cooperation and understanding as investigations continue into the tragic event.