A tragic incident unfolded at a high school in the southern Philippines as a student armed with two pistols fatally shot another 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 marks the second school shooting in the country within a span of two months.
The assailant, identified as Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani, first fired at a teacher but missed before targeting a student on the fourth floor and then turning the gun on himself. The attack was broadcast on Facebook Live, capturing moments of indiscriminate firing and the tragic events that unfolded.
Following the gunshots, hundreds of students were evacuated from the high school building, and two others sustained injuries during the incident. The suspect’s actions were monitored on social media, with authorities planning to conduct a thorough investigation into his online activities to understand the motives behind the attack.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso confirmed that the suspect took his own life after the shooting. The high school building where the tragedy occurred is within a secure campus separate from the main university facilities, prompting the suspension of classes at all levels as a precautionary measure.
The incident has reignited concerns about gun violence, with officials emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures in educational institutions. Despite previous assurances from law enforcement regarding school safety, incidents like this underscore the ongoing challenges posed by unauthorized firearms in the country.
