Boy Scouts honor student killed shielding classmates in school shooting

(Photo Courtesy:Boy Scout of the Philippines-Tacloban Chapter)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP)-Tacloban Council paid tribute to Senior Scout Chris Lorenz T. Fabian, 15, who was among those killed in the shooting incident at San Jose National High School that also claimed the lives of two other people and left at least 20 others injured.

In a statement, the BSP-Tacloban Council described Fabian as a Scout who lived by the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law until his final moments.

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READ: Tacloban shooting: Slain student who shielded peers hailed a hero

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“A Scout’s trail on earth has ended, and he has returned to the Great Scoutmaster of all,” the council said.

“You fought the good fight, you stood as a shield for others, and you lived out the Scout Oath and Law until your very last breath. Your heroism at San Jose National High School will never be forgotten,” it added.

The council also extended its condolences to Fabian’s family, friends, and fellow Scouts, saying it would continue to uphold the legacy he left behind.

“We render our highest, snappiest, and most respectful final Scout salute to you, Brother Chris Lorenz. Rest easy, Brother. Your watch is over,” the statement read.

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Fabian’s grandmother, Athlete Fabian, 57, believes that the values her grandson learned as a Boy Scout inspired him to protect his classmates during the attack.

“He truly followed the ‘Service First’ creed of the Boy Scouts. That is why he offered his life as a shield so his classmates could be saved,” she said.

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While proud of her grandson’s courage, she admitted that the pain of losing him remains overwhelming.

“He is now considered a hero, but he is no longer with us,” she said.

Fabian’s mother, Erbea Fabian, described her son as naturally selfless, saying he never hesitated to help others.

“He never thought twice about helping his classmates. If one of them had no money and he also had none, he would borrow from his teacher and promise to pay it back the next day,” she said.

She recalled that Chris Lorenz would often leave money at the school canteen so classmates would have something to eat.

“He would even lend his clothes to his classmates. He once lent his Boy Scout uniform to a classmate during their investiture ceremony,” she said.

Because he had lent out his uniform, Fabian attended the investiture wearing only a white T-shirt and an old pair of Boy Scout pants that he had already outgrown.

“I was the one who would go to the school and remind his classmate to return the T-shirt he had borrowed from Chris,” his mother said.

As a final tribute, Erbea requested that her son be dressed in his Boy Scout uniform for his wake.

The fatal shooting at San Jose National High School resulted in the deaths of Fabian and two others, while around 20 people were injured. Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack.

The Boy Scouts of the Philippines teaches values of service, duty, and helping others through the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

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Family members believe these principles were reflected in Fabian’s final act of protecting his fellow students. /jpv