A high school classroom at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University in the southern Philippines turned into a scene of a deadly attack on Tuesday, August 18, when a ninth-grade student opened fire on classmates during a terrifying murder-suicide shooting.

Police identified the shooter as Mohammad Mael Jalani, who was carrying two pistols, including a Glock .45-caliber handgun. He ended up killing a tenth-grade student and wounding two others and livestreamed the entire incident using a body camera.

According to preliminary reports, Jalani initially targeted a teacher at the front of a classroom but missed. He then made his way to the fourth floor and shot a Grade 10 student before ascending to the fifth floor, where he took his own life.

There were some inconsistencies in the accounts of exactly how Jalani died. While Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla initially said that he jumped from the building and took his life, both Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso and local police confirmed that the suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Olaso confirmed that the suspect, who has been described as a “very bright student” and an avid Roblox player, wore a body camera to livestream the attack as it unfolded. 

The motive behind the deadly act remains unknown. Local police have launched a full-scale investigation and are examining Jalani’s digital footprints, including his chat logs and online gaming history, to uncover a potential motive. Remulla told reporters that the deceased suspect posted snippets of the shooting during a Facebook live. 

Following the gunfire, hundreds of students were evacuated from the high school facility, which is a secured complex separated from the main campus of the private Catholic university. Police have stated that the campus was under control a few hours after the incident.

Mayor Olaso has declared that “all classes at Ateneo de Zamboanga will be suspended effective today in all levels.” 

Students have launched a petition requesting the mayor to suspend all classes for a longer period. 

“The recent shooting incident that has caused fear and panic not only among the students and parents of Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) but also among other students, parents, teachers, and members of the community,” they said in the petition.

“Given the seriousness of the incident and the anxiety it has created, we believe that temporarily suspending classes would be a prudent safety measure. This would give authorities time to assess the situation, ensure the safety of our schools, and allow parents and students to feel more secure.”

“We sincerely hope for your kind consideration of this appeal. The safety and well-being of our learners and the entire community should remain our utmost priority.”

In the wake of the incident, city officials suspended all classes at the school indefinitely. 

The deadly rampage marks the second horrific school shooting to rock the Philippines in recent weeks. Less than two months ago, an attack in Tacloban City left three students dead.

Disclaimer: The Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public record.