On Friday, October 18, 2024, the Dom Pedro I Municipal School in Heliópolis, Brazil, became the site of a deadly shooting, leaving four people dead. 

A 14-year-old student, Samuel Andrade, opened fire on his classmates, killing three students before taking his own life. The Bahia Civil Police identified the victims as Jonathan dos Santos, Fernanda Gama, and Adriele Ferreira, all aged 15.

The shooting occurred in the middle of the afternoon as students were seated in their classrooms. 

According to police reports, Andrade sat at his desk before standing up and firing a .38-caliber revolver at his classmates. A teacher and nine other students who were present in the room were unharmed but left traumatized by the event. 

Investigators are still searching for a motive behind the shooting and are looking into how Andrade obtained the firearm.

In a statement on Saturday, police chief Thiago Cunha said, “The father’s statement was very brief and did not provide any specific details about the ownership of the weapon.” Cunha added that Andrade’s father was shocked and could not explain how his son had access to a gun. 

Investigators recovered Andrade’s cellphone and laptop, hoping these would provide more insight into his actions leading up to the shooting.

The victims of the shooting were friends with Andrade, making the incident even more difficult for their families to comprehend. Elisangela de Sousa, the mother of Fernanda Gama, said that Andrade was close to her daughter and the other victims. She said they were friends and met at church every Sunday. Despite the devastating loss of her daughter, de Sousa expressed no hatred towards Andrade.

The community of Heliópolis is in mourning following the tragedy. The Bahia state government announced that psychologists and social workers would be sent to the school to offer support to students and staff who witnessed the shooting. In a statement, the municipal government and education department pledged to ensure a “healthy, welcoming, and safe” environment for students and staff.

Gun ownership in Brazil is heavily regulated, but recent years have seen an increase in school shootings, often with firearms obtained illegally. School attacks in Brazil have risen sharply, with 60% of the total incidents in the last two decades occurring between 2022 and 2023. The state of São Paulo has recorded the highest number of school attacks in the country.

As Heliópolis grapples with the aftermath of this tragedy, questions remain about what led Andrade to commit such an act and how it could have been prevented. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with authorities hoping that more information will come to light from Andrade’s personal devices. In the meantime, the local community continues to offer support to the grieving families and those affected by the tragedy.