A morning of panic unfolded at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School on Tuesday, August 18, after a student opened fire inside campus grounds, leaving two dead—including the gunman—and two others wounded.
Authorities identified the suspect as a Grade 9 student armed with a high-powered assault rifle and a .45-caliber pistol.
Wearing a body camera to livestream the assault on social media, the suspect reportedly attempted to shoot a teacher in one room before moving to another, where he fatally shot a Grade 10 student.
The gunman then turned the weapon on himself after injuring two other students.
Police Regional Office 9 received the initial call at 7:50 a.m. Officers, led by Zamboanga City Police Office director Col. Fidel Fortaleza Jr., quickly responded to secure the scene.
PRO 9 Public Information Officer Maj. Shellamie Chang assured that remaining students were evacuated safely to designated areas while investigators proceed with crime scene processing.
“The Zamboanga City Police Office’s investigation will focus heavily on how the suspect managed to bring high-powered firearms into the school grounds,” Chang stated.
Ateneo de Zamboanga University confirmed the two fatalities in an official statement, emphasizing that student safety remains its top priority.
School administration immediately coordinated with parents and guardians to facilitate safe pickups while urging the public to respect the privacy of affected families.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso and local government officials also reassured residents that security measures are tightly enforced.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) expressed grave concern over the incident, promising immediate support for the school community.
DepEd is coordinating with mental health partners to provide Psychological First Aid and psychosocial services to traumatized learners and staff.
Both DepEd and local government officials strongly appealed to the public to remain calm and stop spreading unverified rumors, sensitive photos, or viral livestream footage online to protect the dignity of the young victims.
