Brazil is left stunned by school massacre
Source: Agencies |
April 9, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
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GRIEVING families gathered yesterday to bury 12 children gunned down in the halls of their elementary school, an unheard-of act of school violence that has left stunned Brazilians struggling for answers.
Ten girls and two boys between the ages of 12 and 15 were killed, most shot in the head at point-blank range by 23-year-old Wellington Oliveira, who shot and killed himself after being confronted by police. At least 12 other students were injured in the Thursday shooting at the Tasso da Silveira public school. Two are in grave condition.
Neighbors wandered past the school in a shocked daze yesterday, leaving flowers along the wall of the school in western Rio's working-class Realengo neighborhood. Twelve crosses were left along a wall just outside the school, the name of each child killed written above them.
The shootings turned the school, which was celebrating its 40th anniversary on Thursday, into a nightmarish scene that crime experts said was the worst school massacre in Brazil's history.
Witnesses said Oliveira stalked the halls of the elementary school he attended himself years before, lining up most of the children he killed and shooting them in the head as they begged him to stop.
Oliveira took his own life after police gunfire struck his legs and sent him toppling down some stairs.
Witnesses said the young man entered the school armed with two pistols and an ammunition belt, shooting at students and repeatedly yelling: "I'm going to kill you all!"
The motive for the attack wasn't known, but authorities said he left a rambling letter indicating he wanted to kill himself and explaining how he wanted his corpse to be cared for. Edmar Peixoto, the deputy mayor of western Rio, said the letter also stated the gunman had the HIV virus.
Oliveira's neighbors told the newspaper Jornal do Brasil that they couldn't believe the quiet young man was responsible for so much bloodshed.
Elma Pedrosa, remembered Oliveira as an unusual youth who looked away when he passed acquaintances rather than greet them. "He was anti-social, but he never demonstrated any violent tendencies," she said.
Oliveira had no criminal history, police said.
Ten girls and two boys between the ages of 12 and 15 were killed, most shot in the head at point-blank range by 23-year-old Wellington Oliveira, who shot and killed himself after being confronted by police. At least 12 other students were injured in the Thursday shooting at the Tasso da Silveira public school. Two are in grave condition.
Neighbors wandered past the school in a shocked daze yesterday, leaving flowers along the wall of the school in western Rio's working-class Realengo neighborhood. Twelve crosses were left along a wall just outside the school, the name of each child killed written above them.
The shootings turned the school, which was celebrating its 40th anniversary on Thursday, into a nightmarish scene that crime experts said was the worst school massacre in Brazil's history.
Witnesses said Oliveira stalked the halls of the elementary school he attended himself years before, lining up most of the children he killed and shooting them in the head as they begged him to stop.
Oliveira took his own life after police gunfire struck his legs and sent him toppling down some stairs.
Witnesses said the young man entered the school armed with two pistols and an ammunition belt, shooting at students and repeatedly yelling: "I'm going to kill you all!"
The motive for the attack wasn't known, but authorities said he left a rambling letter indicating he wanted to kill himself and explaining how he wanted his corpse to be cared for. Edmar Peixoto, the deputy mayor of western Rio, said the letter also stated the gunman had the HIV virus.
Oliveira's neighbors told the newspaper Jornal do Brasil that they couldn't believe the quiet young man was responsible for so much bloodshed.
Elma Pedrosa, remembered Oliveira as an unusual youth who looked away when he passed acquaintances rather than greet them. "He was anti-social, but he never demonstrated any violent tendencies," she said.
Oliveira had no criminal history, police said.
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