A shooting inside a private university campus in Zamboanga City on Tuesday morning, August 18, 2026, left at least two people dead, including the suspected shooter, who was identified as a student. The Philippine National Police declared the situation under control hours after the incident, as investigators continued to process the scene and authorities worked to verify casualty figures.
Ateneo de Zamboanga Confirms Two Fatalities
Ateneo de Zamboanga University confirmed two deaths in an official statement released following the incident, according to Philstar.com. Initial reports indicated that one of those killed was the shooter, described as a student of the institution.
University president Ernald Andal subsequently confirmed that the situation was no longer an active shooting. Andal stated there were no additional fatalities or reported injuries beyond those already confirmed, according to the South China Morning Post.
The university's grade school and junior high school departments separately issued advisories stating their students were safe and accounted for, according to Philstar.com.
Shooting Reported at 7:50 A.M. on Upper Floors of High School Building
Police Regional Office 9 public information chief Maj. Shellamie Chang said the office received reports of the shooting at 7:50 a.m., with officers arriving at the campus immediately after, according to Philstar.com.
The shooting reportedly took place on the upper levels of a high school building within the campus, according to Rappler. Reporters were barred from entering the campus, and details of the incident remained limited in the hours that followed.
Chang said personnel from Police Station 7 in Santa Maria — which has jurisdiction over the school — remained at the scene alongside the city police director. Other students had already been evacuated to a designated assembly area while investigators processed the site, according to SunStar.
Casualty Count Varies in Early Reports
Accounts of the number of wounded varied across early media coverage. Some local media placed the number of injured at nine, according to Philstar.com. However, the city mayor stated that one student and the shooter were killed and that two other students were hurt, according to the South China Morning Post.
The PNP said authorities were still working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident and that verified information would be released as it became available.
PNP Chief Calls for Calm, Urges Parents to Follow School Advisories
PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said in a statement that Police Regional Office 9 and the Zamboanga City Police Office promptly responded to the reported shooting and coordinated with school authorities and other agencies to ensure the safe and orderly movement of students, faculty, and school personnel.
Nartatez appealed to the public to refrain from sharing unconfirmed reports, photos, or videos that may cause unnecessary alarm or concern.
The PNP also urged parents and guardians to remain calm and to follow the school's advisory regarding designated pickup times and arrangements for their children, noting that an orderly process would allow responding personnel to work without unnecessary congestion at the campus.
DepEd Readies Psychosocial Support for Affected Students and Staff
The Department of Education said it was gravely concerned over the reported shooting and expressed readiness to provide support to affected students, families, and school personnel, according to Rappler. DepEd said it was coordinating with mental health partners to provide psychological first aid and psychosocial support to those affected.
The department also urged the public not to spread unverified information or share sensitive photos, videos, or other details related to the incident, particularly given that minors were involved.
By the Numbers
- 2 — confirmed fatalities, including the suspected student shooter, per Ateneo de Zamboanga University
- 2 — additional students reported wounded, per the Zamboanga City mayor
- 9 — number of wounded cited by some local media outlets, per Philstar.com
- 7:50 a.m. — time Police Regional Office 9 received the initial shooting report, per Maj. Shellamie Chang
Why This Matters
The shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University marks a serious breach of school safety inside one of the region's established private educational institutions, drawing immediate responses from the PNP, local police, and the Department of Education. The conflicting casualty figures in early reporting underline the challenges of real-time information management during active campus emergencies. The involvement of a student as the suspected gunman, and the presence of minors throughout the incident, has prompted both law enforcement and education authorities to caution the public against the spread of unverified content that could further distress affected families.
Photo credit: Photo from Rappler/file