A young boy opened fire Tuesday at his school in Rio Branco, capital of the Amazon state of Acre. He killed two staff members, injured a third and an 11-year-old student. He then turned himself in and was arrested.
Published on: 06/05/2026 - 02:51 Modified on: 06/05/2026 - 07:51
A 13-year-old boy opened fire on Tuesday May 5 in his school in northwestern Brazil, killing two employees, injuring a third as well as an 11-year-old student, hit by a shot in the leg, before surrendering.
According to initial information, the boy entered his school in Rio Branco, capital of the Amazonian state of Acre, armed and began firing shots in a corridor leading to the principal's office, Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Russo of the state's military police told the press. He then surrendered and was arrested, as was his father-in-law, who owned the 9mm caliber firearm, according to a local government statement.
Students who would have been aware of the shooter's intentions and, according to Felipe Russo, could hypothetically have cooperated with him, have been identified. The Acre civil police opened an investigation.
Psychological support
Eduardo Rodrigues Cavalcante, receptionist at the Inacio Palace hotel, adjacent to the school, told AFP he saw students trying to jump the wall separating the buildings, "except that it is six meters high and only one managed to cross it". “The others took refuge on the roof of the school, trying to escape,” he said by telephone, saying he heard “gunshots and many screams”.
Images broadcast by local media showed a woman being evacuated on a stretcher, as well as tearful families hugging each other in front of the school, where police were deployed.
“Faced with this tragedy, the State expresses its deep solidarity with the families of the victims, the school community of the Sao José Institute and all education professionals affected by this event,” added the local government in the press release. Psychological support teams have been mobilized to provide assistance to students and teachers.
Increase in attacks in schools
In accordance with the current safety protocol, classes were suspended for three days in all educational establishments in the state.
School attacks have increased in Brazil in recent years, leaving dozens dead. In September 2025, two teenagers were shot dead and three minors injured at a school in the northeastern state of Ceara. In October 2023, a shooting at a school in Sao Paulo left a 17-year-old student dead and three others injured.
Shortly before, a teenager killed a student and injured three others in a stabbing attack after classes at a school in the state of Minas Gerais, in southeastern Brazil. In April of the same year, a 25-year-old man axed to death four children aged between three and seven at a daycare in the southern state of Santa Catarina.
With AFP
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