A high school student fatally shot a classmate before killing himself Tuesday in a livestreamed attack at a southern Philippine school, police and officials reported.
The incident occurred on the campus of Ateneo de Zamboanga University High School in Zamboanga City. Hundreds of students were evacuated following the gunfire. Two other individuals sustained injuries, according to police and city officials.
Police identified the suspect as Mohammad Mael Jalani, a Grade 9 student. Initial reports indicate he fired at a teacher before shooting a fellow student on the fourth floor of the building. He then proceeded to the fifth floor and died by suicide, according to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla. Remulla stated that the suspect had begun broadcasting the events on Facebook Live as he ascended the stairs, though only brief segments were visible. An investigation into the suspect's gaming and chat history is underway to understand the motive.
The high school is situated within a secured campus, separate from the university's college and professional school facilities.
Law enforcement and military personnel responded to the scene. Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso confirmed the suspect's death by suicide. National police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. assured the public that the situation was under control and that authorities were working to establish the full circumstances. He urged the public to avoid sharing unverified information, photos, or videos.
This is the second fatal school shooting in the Philippines in two months. In June, three high school students were killed and at least 20 others were injured in Tacloban City. Two students, ages 14 and 15, were arrested in connection with that incident.
Authorities had previously taken steps to address concerns about online gaming's potential influence on violence. Days after the Tacloban shooting, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center announced a temporary block on the online game Gorebox, pending an assessment of its role, after one of the suspects was found to be an avid user.
The shooting in Zamboanga occurred shortly after a school shooting in Thailand, where a 14-year-old boy killed several people. The Thai Prime Minister had initiated measures to restrict firearm access in the country.