A shooting incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s Junior High School campus on Tuesday morning, August 18, left one student dead, while the Grade 7 student identified by police as the suspected shooter was later found dead inside the school building.
The incident prompted the evacuation of students and an emergency response from the Zamboanga City Police Office.
Police received the first report of gunfire at around 7:50 a.m. Authorities immediately secured the campus as investigators began establishing the sequence of events, the possible motive, and how a firearm was brought inside the school.
Police Regional Office 9 spokesperson Maj. Shellamie Chang said police officers and crime scene personnel were deployed to the area.
“They are on top of the situation,” Chang said.
Other students were brought to designated evacuation areas while authorities processed the scene.
“Safe naman yung ibang mga estudyante. Na-evacuate na sa kanilang evacuation area. Processing na lang yung ginagawa sa area,” Chang said.
Police later located the suspected shooter on the fifth floor of the building. A firearm was recovered nearby.
Investigators are now looking into how the Grade 7 student obtained the weapon and was able to bring it onto the campus.
“Tututukan ng investigation na gagawin ng Zamboanga City Police Office kung paano nakapasok sa school yung firearm na dala ng suspek natin,” Chang said.
The Zamboanga City government said authorities had brought the situation under control and urged the public to avoid sharing unverified information while the investigation remains ongoing.
“We assure the public that the situation is under control and appropriate security measures are in place. The safety of our students, teachers, and school communities remains our highest priority,” the city government said.
The incident happened less than two months after a separate school shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that left three students dead and 20 others injured. That case prompted discussions among authorities on school security, firearm access, bullying, and students’ exposure to harmful content online.
