ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Two students, including the gunman, were killed after a shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) Junior High School campus on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
What happened
Initial reports said the gunman entered the campus carrying a high-powered firearm and a .45-caliber pistol and opened fire inside the school building.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso said the suspect initially fired at a teacher, although it remained unclear whether the teacher was hit, before fatally shooting a fellow student.
The gunman later died by suicide, bringing the confirmed death toll to two, while two other people were reported injured.
Philippine National Police chief General Melencio Nartatez Jr. said authorities were still establishing the circumstances surrounding the shooting and called on the public to remain calm.
“The situation is now under control,” Nartatez said.
Nartatez said the shooting occurred shortly after the university’s security team conducted simulation exercises designed to prepare for similar incidents.
Who were the students?
Local reports identified the gunman as a Grade 7 student and the victim as a Grade 10 student, although early accounts differed on their grade levels.
Olaso described the gunman as a “very bright student” but reportedly a “Roblox fanatic,” while urging parents to keep firearms out of children’s reach.
School response
AdZU president Ernald Andal confirmed that there was no longer an active shooting and emphasized the university’s priority of protecting students.
“We do not want any of these things to happen,” Andal said, adding, “We wish to prioritize the safety of all our students.”
The university suspended classes at all levels on August 18 and 19 and urged the public not to share unverified information, photos or videos.
The five-story school building sits on an eight-hectare (19.8-acre) campus housing grade school and junior high school students, according to the university’s website.
A second school shooting
The Zamboanga shooting came nearly two months after a June attack at a public high school in Tacloban City that killed at least three students and injured about 20 others after two of their schoolmates opened fire on campus.
Authorities continue to investigate the Zamboanga shooting, including how the student was able to bring firearms onto campus and what led to the attack.
— The Summit Express
What happened to the school security system? How can a student carry firearms without any security officer noticing it? It seems that the security personnel are very lenient, this could have been avoided if proper and strict security protocols are in place.
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