A deadly shooting at a high school campus in Zamboanga, southern Philippines, has left a student dead and several others injured. Authorities said the teenage suspect was carrying two firearms and later died by suicide after the attack.
The incident triggered a major evacuation as hundreds of students were moved to safety while police secured the campus. The shooting has also renewed concerns about school security and access to firearms in the Philippines.
Shooting Sends Students Into Panic
The attack occurred Tuesday at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus in Zamboanga City. Police said the suspect, identified as Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani, entered the high school building carrying two pistols.
According to initial information released by authorities, the student first fired toward a teacher who was inside a classroom but apparently missed. He then went to another floor, where he shot a Grade 10 student who died from the attack.
The suspect subsequently went to the fifth floor and took his own life, officials said. Two other people were also reported injured.
City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso said the student apparently used a body-worn camera to livestream parts of the incident. Authorities said only portions of the footage appeared online and warned the public against spreading unverified videos or information.
Police Investigate How Guns Entered the School
Following the shooting, hundreds of students were evacuated from the secured school campus. Police later said the situation had been brought under control and urged parents and guardians to follow instructions from school officials when collecting their children.
Authorities are investigating the motive behind the attack. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said investigators would examine the suspect’s online activity, gaming history and communications as part of the forensic investigation.
Officials also raised questions about the source of the firearms. One of the pistols was reportedly issued to the suspect’s father, a Bureau of Customs police commander in Zamboanga. A government official recommended that the father be temporarily suspended while authorities examine whether the firearm had been properly secured.
The attack comes only about two months after another deadly school shooting in Tacloban, where three high school students were killed and at least 20 people were wounded. Police arrested two teenagers in connection with that incident.
School shootings remain relatively uncommon in the Philippines, although the widespread availability of firearms continues to be a concern for authorities.
