A shooting occurred inside the high school of Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City, southern Philippines. A Grade 9 student, equivalent to Grade 9 or M.3, used two firearms to shoot inside a classroom, resulting in the deaths of the shooter and one other student, with two more injured. Authorities are investigating the motive and security lapses.
The incident took place Tuesday morning local time, just before classes were to begin, at the Ateneo de Zamboanga High School located in Barangay Tumaga, Zamboanga City, Philippines.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Shellamy Chang stated that the shooter, a Grade 9 student, carried both a handgun and a long gun into the school premises before opening fire on classmates without provocation. Jonvic Remulla, Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Haimer Olaso, Mayor of Zamboanga City, both confirmed the shooter was wearing a body camera to live stream or record the attack.
Reports indicate the shooter first aimed at a teacher, but it is unclear if the teacher was hit. The shooter then killed one student and injured at least two others. Authorities later found the shooter's body on the fifth-floor corridor of the school building, while the other deceased student was found on the fourth floor below.
After gunshots rang out, chaos erupted inside the school. Shared video footage shows many students running in panic from the building. Police and forensic teams quickly secured the area.
By approximately 08:40 a.m., Police Chief Fidel Fortaleza of Zamboanga City confirmed the situation was safe and no further threats existed. Other students were evacuated to a secure location to await pickup by their guardians.
Ateneo de Zamboanga University issued a statement expressing deep condolences over the incident, emphasizing that student safety is the highest priority. The school coordinated with parents to ensure students were safely sent home.
Additionally, the school, Department of Education, and National Police Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. jointly appealed to the public to refrain from sharing false information or distressing images and videos, as the incident involves minors and could cause psychological harm to victims and hinder authorities' work.
The Philippine Department of Education reported it is urgently deploying mental health teams to provide counseling and psychological support to affected students, staff, and others impacted by the shooting.
This school shooting raises major concerns about school security measures. Lieutenant Colonel Shellamy Chang said police will focus investigations on how the shooter concealed two firearms inside the school, especially given recent nationwide security reinforcements following a June school shooting in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured more than 20.
Although gun-related crimes are common in the Philippines due to widespread illegal firearms, school shootings remain relatively rare in the country.