14-Year-Old Opens Fire at Philippine High School — Two Students Killed, Shooter Dies; Dark Web Influence Probed

At least two students were killed and eight others were wounded after a 14-year-old allegedly opened fire inside a Grade 9 classroom at Banga National High School in Banga, South Cotabato, on Friday, Sept. 18, at about 1:15 p.m. local time, according to local and national reports.

Police officers at the scene of a shooting incident at a high school in Banga town, South CotabatoCredit: AFP via Getty

Incident and Immediate Response

Police and emergency teams cordoned off the affected classrooms and processed the scene while medical personnel treated the injured. Authorities said the suspected teenage shooter and two students died; at least eight others were injured, four of them in critical condition, regional outlets reported.

Personnel from the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development following the shooting at the Banga National High SchoolCredit: Philippine DSWD/ Handout/Anadolu via Getty

Weapon, Ownership and Household Circumstances

Officials say the weapon used was a 9-mm pistol registered to the suspect's father, who is an employee of the Department of Education (DepEd). Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and local reporting indicated the household possessed three licensed firearms that were not properly secured. The father has not been publicly identified and, according to some reports, has not been suspended pending the ongoing investigation.

Banga National High SchoolCredit: Philippine DSWD/ Handout/Anadolu via Getty

Investigations Under Way

Investigators are examining the suspect's electronic devices, notes and the crime scene for forensic evidence to establish motive and sequence of events. Authorities said they found notes on the boy's phone and are reviewing his online activity. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stated investigators found evidence the boy accessed the dark web and that online material may have influenced him; these findings are under review.

"For one thing, we cannot read a person's mind, but we can investigate or look into their actions before these incidents," Philippine National Police chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said, noting heavy online activity involving violent content in the suspect's records.

Warning Signs and Eyewitness Accounts

Friends and family reportedly noticed warning signs earlier in the year. Local officials say the parents noticed concerning behavior and attempted to intervene as early as April 2026. According to Mayor Albert Palencia, the suspect had told classmates before the attack, "after lunch, I will be executing my plan," a remark his peers initially treated as a joke because he was considered a joker. The mayor said the suspect then opened fire in an adjacent classroom.

Support for Victims and Community Response

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced financial assistance for each wounded student and for the families of the two deceased students. DepEd said it was "outraged by this breach of campus safety," deployed officials to assist victims on site and is coordinating closely with local authorities and law enforcement during the investigation.

Investigations remain active and authorities continue to process electronic devices, interview witnesses and review the circumstances that allowed the alleged shooter access to the firearm. More details are expected as forensic analyses and official inquiries progress.