CABANATUAN CITY – The shooting of a Grade 10 girl by a teenaged make student inside the classroom in Santa Rosa Integrated School in Barangay Rizal here on Aug. 7 is a reminder on the importance to safeguard schools, a ranking police official said Friday.
Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office director Col. Heryl Bruno said the incident “reminds us of the importance of safeguarding our schools and taking a serious look at the emotional and psychological well-being of our youth.”
“We are working hand-in-hand with the school and the parents of the students involved to get to the bottom of this and to prevent similar incidents in the future,” Bruno said.
Crisis intervention services are also being offered.
The 15-year-old female student is in critical condition after she was shot in the neck by male student inside their classroom in Barangay Rizal, Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija during class break Thursday morning.
The suspect, identified only by his alias Leo, resident of Barangay Santo Rosario, allegedly entered the victim’s classroom without provocation. Witnesses said he suddenly drew a .22 revolver from his waist and shot the victim, before turning the gun on himself.
Both were rushed to the nearest hospital for immediate medical treatment.
Their current conditions remain undisclosed as of this posting. The motive behind the incident is still being investigated and police are also working to determine how the suspect was able to obtain the firearm used in the shooting.
Meanwhile, Bruno said police across the province are now on full alert and have intensified their presence in all areas to ensure public safety.
