The Dom Pedro I Municipal School in Heliópolis, Brazil, was the scene of a fatal shooting on October 18, 2024, where four lives were taken, including the shooter’s.
A student named Samuel Andrade, aged 14, fatally shot three of his classmates before taking his own life. The victims, identified as Jonathan dos Santos, Fernanda Gama, and Adriele Ferreira, were all 15 years old, according to Bahia Civil Police.
The incident took place in the afternoon while students were in their classrooms. Andrade started firing a .38-caliber revolver at his classmates from his desk. A teacher and nine students, although physically unscathed, were left emotionally scarred by the incident.
Investigations are underway to determine Andrade’s motive for the shooting and how he procured the firearm. Police recovered Andrade’s cellphone and laptop in the hope that they might provide insights into his actions before the shooting.
Police Chief Thiago Cunha commented on the matter, saying, “The father’s statement was very brief and did not provide any specific details about the ownership of the weapon.” He further added that Andrade’s father was shocked and had no explanation for how his son had access to a gun.
The victims were known to be friends with Andrade, making the incident even more perplexing for the families. Elisangela de Sousa, Fernanda Gama’s mother, said her daughter and the other victims were close friends with Andrade and would meet every Sunday at church. Despite her deep loss, de Sousa expressed no animosity towards Andrade.
The Heliópolis community is mourning the loss following the tragic incident. The Bahia state government has announced the dispatch of psychologists and social workers to the school to provide support to affected students and staff. The municipal government and education department, in a statement, vowed to ensure a “healthy, welcoming, and safe” environment for everyone at the school.
Despite strict gun control laws in Brazil, there has been an uptick in school shootings in recent years, often involving illegally obtained firearms. The frequency of school attacks in Brazil has significantly increased, with 60% of total incidents over the last two decades taking place between 2022 and 2023. The state of São Paulo has the highest number of school attacks in the country.
As the community of Heliópolis deals with the aftermath of this tragic incident, there are still unresolved questions about what drove Andrade to this act and how it could have been prevented. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities hoping for more information from Andrade’s personal devices. Meanwhile, the community continues to rally support for the bereaved families and those impacted by the incident.