Student shoots girlfriend before shooting self in Manila

(Updated 6 p.m.) A college student shot his 17-year-old girlfriend in the face during a confrontation inside one of the classrooms at the Universidad de Manila on Saturday and then shot himself, a radio report said. According to a dzBB report, one of the students who witnessed the incident said the shooting happened on the third floor of the school building at 11:20 a.m., involving the suspect and his girlfriend, both freshmen students taking up political science. Their names have been withheld as both students are minors.

Policemen inspect a gun used by a 17-year-old freshman student who shot his supposed girlfriend before shooting himself inside the Universidad de Manila on Saturday. Danny Pata

The radio report said that two were supposedly arguing about the girl's being two months pregnant. She allegedly wanted to have the baby aborted but the suspect reportedly objected to the idea. However, a later report on GMA News TV said that the girl had actually been trying to break up with the suspect but was threatened several times by the latter. On Wednesday, the suspect had allegedly threatened to kill the girl if she tried to break up with him again. Wilfredo Lial, a freshman, said the suspect then rushed out of the classroom and opened fire at the students. The suspect then tried shooting himself in his temple. The report did not indicate whether other students were hurt. "Noong una tinutukan niya ng baril iyong babae, tapos nagpaputok pa siya uli, kami na ang pinagbabaril niya," said Lial. The report said the suspect used a cal-38 pistol. Authorities have yet to determine how the suspect was able to sneak the firearm into the school premises, it added. Investigators are checking reports that the shooter's father is a policeman. The girl was rushed to the Manila Doctors Hospital while her boyfriend was brought to the Philippine General Hospital. Classes in the university have already been suspended due to the incident. As of this posting, there was no report yet on the condition of the two in the hospital. The school has yet to issue an official statement. — Mark Merueñas/LBG/TJD, GMA News