Aracruz school shootings | |
---|---|
Location | Aracruz, Espírito Santo, Brazil |
Date | 25 November 2022 c. 9:30 – c. 9:50 a.m. (BRT (UTC-3)) |
Attack type | Mass shooting, school shooting, spree shooting |
Weapons | |
Deaths | 4 |
Injured | 12 |
Perpetrator | Gabriel Rodrigues Castiglioni |
The Aracruz school shootings were a shooting spree that occurred on November 25, 2022, at two schools in Aracruz, Espírito Santo, Brazil. Four people were killed, and 12 others were injured. The suspect, a 16-year-old former student at one of the schools, was arrested approximately four hours later.[1][2][3]
The shootings began at around 9:30 a.m. and occurred at two schools located on the same street.[1][4] The gunman, who wore camouflaged clothing, an armband with a swastika, a skull mask, and a bucket hat, broke into the Primo Bitti Elementary and Middle School, a public school serving elementary and middle school students, after destroying a lock. There, he shot 11 people, killing two teachers. A third teacher died a day later.[1][3][5]
Afterwards, the gunman drove to the Educational Center Praia de Coqueiral, a private school.[1][3] Entering at 9:49 a.m. through the unlocked gates,[4] he shot an additional three people, killing a female 6th-grade student.[3] The gunman fled again a minute later[4] and remained at large for approximately 4 hours. Later, the Military Police released a statement confirming that a suspect was in custody.[1][6]
The victims of the attacks were identified by multiple news sources:
After the shootings, Aracruz announced the suspension of all classes at municipal schools.[11]
The Aracruz mayor said this was "the largest tragedy this city has ever seen".[12] Renato Casagrande, the governor of Espírito Santo, said he would pay attention to the case with "much regret and sadness".[13] He also declared three days of official mourning in the state.[5] President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva posted on Twitter, "My solidarity to the families of the victims in this absurd tragedy."[14]