Shooting at Philippine School Shocks Nation, Perpetrator Live Streamed Attack
A student who orchestrated a deadly shooting at a secondary school in the Philippines apparently broadcast his actions live via social media. The motive behind the fatal shooting is still being investigated by local authorities.
At least one student died, with the perpetrator committing suicide after the attack.
The shooting occurred at a secondary school within the Ateneo de Zamboanga University complex, a private Catholic educational institution in western Mindanao, on Tuesday (18/8) local time. This was the second shooting in the Philippines within a two-month period.
“So far, we know that the perpetrator went to the victim’s classroom. He shot the victim, and after that, he went up to the fifth floor and shot himself,” said local police spokesperson Shella Chang, as reported by AFP on Tuesday (18/8/2026).
Philippine Interior Secretary Victor Remulla, in a separate statement, confirmed that the perpetrator — identified as a ninth-grade student — had live-streamed his actions on social media. The suspected perpetrator’s Facebook account has now been deactivated.
In video taken from the perpetrator’s live stream, published by local media, a firearm barrel can be seen moving along the school corridor in a first-person perspective reminiscent of a video game, before the weapon is aimed into a classroom and shots are fired.
Children in school uniforms then screamed and appeared to run towards the exit.
It is not yet clear how many people were injured in the incident.
The rector of Ateneo de Zamboanga, Father Guillrey Andal, confirmed that two people died in the incident. He stated that the school was “deeply saddened” by the shooting and is cooperating with the investigation.
Andal acknowledged that the incident had caused “profound concern and anxiety”.
Motive for Shooting Still Under Police Investigation
The Philippine Department of the Interior said in a statement that the National Police are working to “uncover the motive behind the shooting, ascertain the ownership and origin of the firearm used”.
“As well as determine how the firearm was able to be brought into the school environment,” the Interior Ministry statement continued.
Police have not yet released information regarding the ages of the perpetrator or the deceased victim.
School shootings are relatively rare in the Philippines. However, in June, at least three teenage students were killed and 20 others injured in a shooting at a school in the central Philippines.
Legal firearm ownership in the Philippines is strictly regulated, but there is a large black market for firearms.