Two teenage students arrested after gunfire kills three at Philippine high school
Police say two students, aged 14 and 15, opened fire at San Jose National High School in Tacloban, killing three and injuring at least 20, and were taken into custody.
Two students armed with handguns opened fire at San Jose National High School in Tacloban, Philippines, killing three fellow pupils and wounding at least 20 others, police said. The suspects, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, were arrested after the attack; one was detained at the school and the other was located nearby following a tip from residents.
Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy reported that 15 of the injuries were caused by gunshots, including a student hit in the head who remains hospitalized, while the remaining victims were hurt while fleeing the scene. Most of the victims were female. Investigators recovered about 40 shell casings and identified the weapons as a 9 mm pistol obtained from an aunt who is a police officer under investigation, and a .38-caliber revolver.
Capoy said the shooters entered two classrooms before police arrived, and that the school’s single guard was unable to prevent the weapons from being brought onto the campus. Initial questioning indicated the suspects claimed they had been bullied, though no further details were provided.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough investigation and called for heightened security in schools and other public places, communications undersecretary Claire Castro said. The suspects will be transferred to government welfare officers, and the 14-year-old is exempt from criminal prosecution under a 2006 law that sets the minimum age of criminal liability at 15, unless authorities determine he fully understood the crime.
Police urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with investigators by providing any relevant information. While firearm-related crimes are common in the Philippines, school shootings remain relatively rare.
