Philippines School Shooting: Grade 9 Student Kills Classmate, Dies By Suicide

A Grade 9 student shot and killed a Grade 10 classmate at a school in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines on Tuesday before dying by suicide, police and officials said. The attack took place at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University junior high school campus and was reportedly livestreamed on Facebook through a body worn camera.

Police identified the shooter as Mohammad Mael Jalani. He entered the five storey school building carrying a pistol and a rifle. Officials said he first fired at a teacher sitting inside a classroom but appeared to miss. He then entered another classroom and shot a Grade 10 student. He later went to the fifth floor and died after jumping from the building.

The student who was killed was identified in local reports as Patrick Dylan Wee. Two other people were reported injured. Hundreds of students were evacuated after the shooting. The school suspended classes at all levels on Tuesday and Wednesday. University president Ernald Andal said there was no longer any active threat on the campus.

The firearms used in the attack are now a key part of the investigation. Reuters reported that one weapon was a government issued firearm linked to Jalani's father, a Bureau of Customs police commander. The father was removed from his post as authorities examine how the student got access to the weapon.

Officials are also checking Jalani's gaming and online chat history as they try to find a motive. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said investigators would carry out a forensic review before drawing conclusions.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a full investigation and called for stronger safety measures at schools. The shooting is the country's second fatal school shooting in two months, after the June attack in Tacloban that killed three students and injured 20.

The latest attack has also renewed debate over online safety, gun access and security at schools. Authorities had earlier restricted the violent game GoreBox after the Tacloban shooting, but there is currently no confirmed link between that game and the Zamboanga attack.