Trigger Warning: Contains graphic descriptions of gun violence
A breakup has gone tragic in Nueva Ecija.
A male teenager shot his former girlfriend and then himself during a school break at Santa Rosa Integrated School in Barangay Rizal, Nueva Ecija, on Thursday, August 7.
According to reports, an 18-year-old male shot a 15-year-old Grade 10 student inside her classroom around 10:45 a.m. while she was on a break with her classmates.
He struck her in the neck before turning the gun on himself. Both sustained gunshot wounds to the head.
Reports state that the suspect used a .22 caliber firearm, which he drew from his waist.
Col. Heryl Bruno, Nueva Ecija police director, said the girl wanted to end the relationship, something the suspect could not accept.
A separate report quoted the suspect’s sister, Rose, as saying that the two were former classmates at Santa Rosa National High School and had been in a relationship.
The girl transferred to the Santa Rosa Integrated School this school year for undisclosed reasons. Both schools are several kilometers apart.
Rose added that her brother, a former Grade 12 student, stopped attending school some time ago.
The Department of Education Central Office said that it “strongly condemns” the act of violence, which resulted in two casualties.
It said that it stands “in full solidarity with the learners, teachers, and the entire school community” affected by “the appalling incident.”
“We commend the swift response of the Schools Division Office of Nueva Ecija in working with local authorities to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice. We likewise support the ongoing efforts to provide assistance to the families of the victims,” the DepEd Central Office said.
“DepEd reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protect the welfare of every learner, teacher, and school personnel. Our schools must be sanctuaries of safety and learning. Any form of violence, especially within or near school grounds, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” it added.
“We call on our partners in the community to strengthen school security protocols, and uphold our shared duty to make every school a zone of peace,” the office further said.
The DepEd Schools Division of Nueva Ecija (SDO NE) said that it is also working closely with appropriate personnel and partner agencies to offer psychosocial support and critical incident stress debriefing to learners and staff.
It is also working to “restore normalcy and ensure the continuation of learning in a safe and supportive environment.”
