Authorities probe motive as state declares mourning and halts classes for 72 hours

A shooting at the Instituto São José in Rio Branco, capital of Brazil’s Acre state, left two school workers dead and two others injured on Tuesday, according to official reports.

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The attacker, a 13-year-old student, used a firearm belonging to his stepfather to carry out the assault. Police confirmed that the adult owner of the weapon was also arrested. The suspect was taken into custody by the Military Police shortly after the incident.

Colonel Felipe Russo, of the Acre Military Police Special Operations Battalion, stated that “two workers died,” while the injured—an 11-year-old student and a school staff member—received emergency care and were taken to a hospital, where they remain in stable condition, according to government sources.

Preliminary findings indicate that several students were aware that the attacker had been planning the shooting. Authorities have identified those individuals and will question them regarding possible involvement.

The victims were identified as Raquel Sales Feitosa, 36, and Alzenir Pereira da Silva, 53, both employees of the school. Investigations determined that they attempted to stop the attacker from entering a classroom with students. During that intervention, the assailant shot them, and they later died from their injuries.

The weapon used in the attack, a .380 caliber pistol, was seized at the scene. Authorities reported that the teenager confessed to the crime and turned himself in at a Military Police headquarters shortly after the shooting, according to statements by Colonel Marta Renata Freitas, commander general of the Acre Military Police.

The Acre state government declared three days of mourning “in sign of pain for the victims of the attack that occurred at the educational institution Instituto São José.” It also ordered the suspension of classes across all state schools for 72 hours as part of school safety protocols.

The Civil Police has opened an investigation to establish the motive, reconstruct the sequence of events, and determine potential responsibilities.

State authorities expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the school community, and deployed psychosocial support teams to assist students, teachers, and others affected. The school premises remain under police control for forensic work.

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