Police forensics teams are now focusing on digital evidence to establish how the shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University was broadcast online and what drove the minor shooter to carry it out.

Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, J., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the starting point is the mobile phone and other personal effects that were recovered from the student who initiated the gun attack on Tuesday, Aug, 18.

“We will examine the cellphone and other digital evidence carefully and will not conclude until the investigation is completed,” said Nartatez.

The recovered device is expected to help investigators establish the suspect’s online activities before, during, and after the shooting.

Investigators are also checking whether he had been involved in online games or other digital platforms that may have had a connection to the incident.

“We are looking into the online activities of the minor, including possible involvement in online games or other digital platforms, to determine whether these had any connection to the incident,” Nartatez said.

“And we are also looking into whether there were prior incidents, threats, or warning signs involving the shooter that could have alerted authorities,” he added.

Police said the minor livestreamed the attack to a website called “Watch People Die” using a body camera attached to his chest, giving viewers a “first-person shooter” perspective.

Two students died as a result of the incident, including the shooter himself who allegedly took his life. Two other students were injured.

Nartatez earlier ordered to strengthen coordination with the management of social media platforms in the country in taking down all the photos and videos in relation to the incident.

“This is an unfortunate incident that should be treated with utmost sensitivity, especially that there were minors involved in the content. Let us all be compassionate over this tragedy and it starts by showing respect and becoming responsible netizens,” said Nartatez.

“We appeal to everyone to refrain from sharing or reposting the videos and photos of the incident. These materials can cause further distress to the victims, their families and the public, and may also interfere with the ongoing investigation,” he added.

Nartatez said police investigators are examining whether the suspect planned the livestream and if other individuals were involved in distributing the footage,

“We would like to find out what’s in the mind of this child having a firearm, shooting at his fellow students, fellow minors, and why he did this,” Nartatez said.

The shooting in Zamboanga followed a series of violent incidents in schools, including the June attack in Tacloban City that left three students dead.

One of the two shooters in Tacloban was also reported to have been addicted to an online violent game.