(Brasilia) A shooter armed with a semi-automatic pistol and wearing a bulletproof vest killed three people, including two teachers, and injured 13 others on Friday after bursting into two schools in the south-east of the Brazil, authorities said.
The shooting took place at a public school with primary and secondary students, as well as a private school, both located on the same street, in the small town of Aracruz in the state of Espirito Santo, a indicated the secretariat of the public security of the State, by press release. Two teachers and a student were killed.
About four hours later, the shooter, identified as a 16-year-old boy who was studying at public school, was arrested by police, Espirito Santo Governor Renato Casagrande said. Authorities have not released the name of the suspect.
Surveillance camera footage showed the shooter wearing a bulletproof vest and using a semi-automatic pistol at the time of the events, Espirito Santo’s public security secretary, Márcio Celante, said in a video provided by the secretariat press office.
Governor Casagrande said the gun belonged to the former student’s father, a military police officer.
In addition to the fatalities, 13 people were injured, including nine teachers, said Mr. Celante, who noted that at the public school the gunman gained access to the staff room after breaking a lock. Six of the injured, including two children, were still hospitalized Friday afternoon.
School shootings are rare in Brazil, but have occurred with somewhat higher frequency in recent years.
In a video posted on social media, Espirito Santo Governor Renato Casagrande said he was monitoring the situation and had sent authorities to investigate.