THE 18-year-old man who shot his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend at Sta. Rosa Integrated School in Nueva Ecija on August 7, 2025, has died. He passed away more than 24 hours after the shooting incident.
Following the shooting, both the suspect and the victim were initially taken to Doctors Hospital in Cabanatuan City. The suspect was later transferred to Paulino Garcia Memorial Medical Center and placed on life support. However, his family subsequently decided to take him home, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
According to Sta. Rosa police, the suspect entered the school around 10 a.m. on August 7, attempting to remove the victim from her classroom. Upon her refusal, he entered the classroom and shot her before turning the gun on himself. Police Chief P/Maj. Willard Lumawig Dulnuan stated that while a school guard initially intervened, the suspect waited for students to leave before entering the classroom, evading further notice.
School watchmen confirmed they verify the identities of those entering the campus but do not conduct body searches. One watchman explained that they lack the authority to perform such searches. A .22-caliber snub-nose revolver was recovered at the scene.
The Department of Education (DepEd) in Nueva Ecija strongly condemned the shooting, emphasizing that violence is unacceptable in schools. Sta. Rosa Integrated School remains temporarily closed. Family members of both the victim and the suspect, along with hospital staff, declined to comment. Students who witnessed the incident are receiving trauma support, and DepEd is coordinating with police for stress debriefing for students and teachers.
