A tragic incident unfolded at a high school in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga on Tuesday when a student armed with two pistols fatally shot another student before taking his own life. The assailant, identified as Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani, also injured two other individuals during the attack. The violence, which was livestreamed on social media, marked the second fatal school shooting in the country within a span of two months.
Following the sound of gunshots at the Ateneo de Zamboanga university campus, hundreds of students were evacuated to safety. The suspect first targeted a teacher but missed, then proceeded to shoot a student on the fourth floor before ultimately ending his own life on the fifth floor, according to police reports.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla stated that the attacker broadcasted the incident on Facebook Live, providing glimpses of the unfolding tragedy. Authorities are investigating the assailant’s online activities and communication history to understand the motives behind the shooting.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso confirmed that the suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The high school building where the incident occurred is within a secure campus, separated from the larger university premises. Ateneo de Zamboanga temporarily halted classes at all levels in the wake of the tragedy.
Despite efforts to enhance school security nationwide following a previous school shooting in Tacloban city, where three students were killed and several others injured, this latest incident underscores the ongoing challenges posed by gun violence in the Philippines. The suspect’s possession of firearms, including one belonging to his father, highlights the need for stricter firearm control measures to prevent such tragic events from reoccurring.