A fatal shooting occurred at Dom Pedro I Municipal School in Heliópolis, Brazil on Friday, October 18, 2024, claiming the lives of four people.
Samuel Andrade, a 14-year-old student at the school, initiated the shooting spree, killing three of his fellow students before ending his own life. The victims, identified by the Bahia Civil Police as Jonathan dos Santos, Fernanda Gama, and Adriele Ferreira, were each 15 years old.
The incident took place in the middle of the afternoon while the students were in their classrooms. Andrade was reported to have stood up from his desk and started shooting at his classmates with a .38-caliber revolver.
The police report confirmed that a teacher and nine other students, although physically unharmed, were present in the room during the shooting and were deeply traumatized by the incident. The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, as is the manner in which Andrade managed to acquire the firearm.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by police chief Thiago Cunha, “The father’s statement was very brief and did not provide any specific details about the ownership of the weapon.” Cunha further mentioned that Andrade’s father was in a state of shock.
Investigators have confiscated Andrade’s cell phone and laptop in the hopes of gaining further insight into his actions leading up to the unfortunate event. The victims were reportedly friends with Andrade, which has caused even more distress for their families as they try to make sense of the tragedy.
Elisangela de Sousa, Fernanda Gama’s mother, stated that Andrade was close with her daughter and the other victims, with all of them regularly meeting at church every Sunday.
The community of Heliópolis is in a state of mourning following the shooting. The Bahia state government has declared that psychologists and social workers will be deployed to the school to provide support to the traumatized students and staff. In a statement, the municipal government and education department committed to ensuring a “healthy, welcoming, and safe” environment in the school.
While gun ownership in Brazil is heavily regulated, there has been a rise in school shootings in recent years, often involving firearms obtained illegally. The number of such incidents has spiked dramatically, with 60% of the total attacks in the last two decades taking place between 2022 and 2023. São Paulo has seen the highest number of school attacks nationwide.
As the community of Heliópolis comes to terms with this devastating incident, questions remain regarding the reasons behind Andrade’s actions and how such a tragedy could have been avoided. The investigation continues, with authorities hoping that Andrade’s personal devices may reveal more information. Meanwhile, the community continues to rally around the bereaved families and those affected by the incident.