A shooting attack inside the São José Institute, a state-affiliated school in Rio Branco, left two staff members dead and two others injured on Tuesday (05/05), according to information confirmed by the Special Operations Battalion (Bope) and the Acre state government. The attack caused scenes of panic inside the school and mobilized a large police and emergency response operation in the region. Students, teachers, and employees rushed to seek shelter after hearing gunshots echo through the building, while parents gathered outside the institution in search of information about their children.
Dead Staff Members
The victims who died were identified as Alzenir Pereira da Silva, 53, and Raquel Sales Feitosa, 36. Another employee was shot in the foot, while an 11-year-old student suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. According to the Acre government, both injured victims were taken to the emergency room and received medical attention. The school coordinator stated that several spent cartridges and weapon magazines were found scattered across the floor after the shooting. Bope commander Colonel Felipe Russo reported that the two deceased staff members were found lying in a corridor inside the school. “I cannot say how many shots were fired. The staff members were on the ground and appeared to have been struck from the front. We will only know more after the forensic investigation is completed,” he said.
Suspect
Police confirmed that the suspect is a 13-year-old student who entered the school armed and was apprehended after the attack. According to investigators, the firearm used in the shooting belonged to the teenager’s stepfather, who was later taken into custody by the Acre Military Police. Afternoon classes were already underway when the gunshots were heard. Survivors reported scenes of panic and confusion, with students throwing themselves to the floor and attempting to barricade classroom doors using chairs and desks in an effort to protect themselves during the attack.
Stepfather’s Weapon
The stepfather of the teenager suspected of carrying out the attack was questioned by the Civil Police and later released after signing a Circumstantial Occurrence Report (TCO). Authorities confirmed that the weapon used in the crime legally belonged to him. According to investigators, the man arrived at the school shortly after the shooting and was detained by Military Police officers for questioning. The case has raised concerns regarding the storage and supervision of firearms in homes where minors have access to weapons.
Investigations
The State Secretariat of Justice and Public Security (Sejusp) held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to provide details about the attack and the ongoing investigation. The commander-general of the Acre Military Police, Colonel Marta Renata, stated that the teenager had already left the school by the time officers arrived at the scene. She added that the suspect later surrendered voluntarily at the General Command headquarters of the Military Police, located approximately 550 meters from the school. “We still do not know whether he acted alone, but he presented himself alone at the barracks,” she explained. The general delegate of the Acre Civil Police, Pedro Paulo Buzolin, said that investigators are pursuing two separate lines of inquiry: one focused on the teenager’s actions and another examining the stepfather’s possible negligence in failing to properly secure the firearm.
Analysis:
The attack at the São José Institute reflects a broader and deeply concerning pattern involving violent acts committed by minors within school environments. Although Brazil has historically recorded fewer school shootings than countries such as the United States, recent years have shown an increase in incidents involving adolescents with access to weapons and exposure to violent content online. In many cases, these attacks are not isolated events driven solely by individual behavior, but rather the result of a combination of factors including social isolation, emotional instability, fascination with violence, and failures in identifying warning signs before the attack occurs. The fact that the suspect was only 13 years old reinforces concerns about the growing participation of increasingly younger individuals in extreme acts of violence. Another central aspect of the case involves access to firearms inside the home. Investigators confirmed that the weapon legally belonged to the teenager’s stepfather, which raises important questions regarding safe storage practices and parental responsibility.
