15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT SHOT INSIDE CLASSROOM BY EX-BOYFRIEND IN NUEVA ECIJA; SUSPECT ALSO SHOOTS SELF

A FEMALE student on Thursday was shot inside her classroom by her former boyfriend in Sta. Rosa Nueva Ecija.

The victim is 15-years-old while the suspect is 18-years-old from a different school.

Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) Director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones said the incident happened inside a classroom of the Sta Rosa Central School in Bgy. Rizal, Sta. Rosa town at about 10:45 a.m. Thursday.

Initial probe showed the suspect identified only as Leo entered the school and went straight ahead to the victim’s classroom and told her to come out.

The victim allegedly refused to heed to the suspect’s order until “Leo” forced himself inside and without a word shot the girl, hitting her in the neck.

“Leo” then turned the cal. 22 gun to himself and pulled the trigger.

Both were rushed to the Doctor’s Hospital in Cabanatuan City but the suspect was transferred to Paulino Garcia Memorial Medical Center for further treatment.

Police are eyeing crime of passion as motive for the gun attack.

A friend of the girl told  probers that the suspect reportedly could not accept that his relationship with the girl had ended.

Police are determining how the suspect was able to obtain the firearm and bring it inside the school. 

Peñones denounced the incident, adding they are working hand-in-hand with the school and the parents of involved students to prevent similar incidents in the future. 

Meanwhile, authorities said students who witnessed the shooting are now receiving help for trauma.

Police have also coordinated with the Department of Education (DepEd) for stress debriefing for both students and teachers.

The school has been closed temporarily after the incident.