World

Gunmen Opens Fire at Brazil School — 13 Dead

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A gunman opened fire at an elementary school in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday and at least 13 people were killed, including the shooter.

It was not clear whether the gunman, who is believed to be a former student at the school, shot himself or was killed by police.

At least 20 people, including children, were wounded in the shooting at the school for students aged 10 to 15, fire department spokesman Evandro Bezerra told the Globo television network.

A fire department spokeswoman confirmed for The Associated Press that there were deaths, but she did not know how many. She spoke on condition of anonymity as she was not authorized to discuss the matter.

Terrified parents rushed to the school and television images showed them crying and screaming for information about their children.

The gunman was a 23-year-old man and former student at the school, a police spokeswoman told the AP. She also spoke on condition of anonymity, saying that she was not authorized to discuss the matter.

Local police commander Djalma Beltrame told Globo TV that the gunman left a letter at the scene indicating he wanted to kill himself, but that it did not give a clear motive for the shooting.

Television images showed three helicopters landing on a football field next to the school and then ferrying the wounded to nearby hospitals.

The shooting began about 8:30 a.m. local time (7:30 a.m. EDT; 1130 GMT). Witnesses said police responded quickly and traded fire with the gunman.

Associated Press writer Bradley Brooks in Sao Paulo contributed to this report.

Comments (31)

  • truemedia
    Posted on April 9, 2011 at 11:16pm

    Once again the media FAILS to point out the shooter was ISLAMIC!!!!! Sad!

    Report Post »  
  • Billsocal
    Posted on April 8, 2011 at 9:22am

    The Drudge Report post said that the shooter left a letter behind and their some Islamiic Fundamentalist quotes in the letter. Just another follower of the religion of peace.

    Report Post »  
  • mrsmileyface
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 5:47pm

    The guy was upset because he didnt get part of the 2bil dollars to drill in the Gulf Of Mexico from Obama. His brother who runs Petrobras did however, and ridiculed him to tears and told him mother never loved him.

    Report Post » mrsmileyface  
  • delhoghe
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 2:51pm

    Let me see…It happened in Brazil ( most Catholic country on earth )….it happened at a school for 10-15 year old children…..the shooter was 23…..I wouldn’t be surprised if this turned out to be child abuse related.

    Report Post »  
  • PUPITO
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 2:11pm

    Stuff like this never happened prior to Obambi’s visit! It‘s Obambi’s fault for sure!

    Report Post »  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 2:10pm

    Very sad!

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • PUPITO
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 2:09pm

    This stuff never happened prior to Obambi’s visit! Obambi is bad for peoples health and well-being!

    Report Post »  
  • TheGreyPiper
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:58pm

    Blame the NRA.

    Report Post » TheGreyPiper  
  • GreyGhost
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:45pm

    It’s the guns fault!!!! =]

    Report Post » GreyGhost  
  • betterthantv
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:41pm

    Damn, this story hit close to home for me. I have a very good friend who teaches English at a school in Brazil. Not in Rio though. This is really a sad story. Why can’t these people simply kill themselves instead of taking so many innocents with them?

    Report Post » betterthantv  
  • The Constitution
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:26pm

    Gun Meanies in Brazil too? Gasp! They better get some good old liberal, progressive gun control laws down there to protect the sheeple! Oh wait, they do have gun control in Brazil! all firearms are required to be registered with the state; the minimum age for ownership is 25 and although it is legal to carry a gun outside a residence, extremely severe restrictions were made by the federal government since 2002 making it virtually impossible to obtain a carry permit.

    Wow, but yet, somehow, a gunman wasn’t dissuaded from acts of violence by strict gun laws! Who da thunk it???

    Report Post »  
    • delhoghe
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 3:17pm

      THE CONSTITUTION…….sounds like poor enforcement of existing law.

      Report Post »  
  • veramalinowska
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:26pm

    Another jihadi? The headline in Portuguese references Islam…Irmã de atirador diz que ele era ligado ao Islamismo e não saía muito de casa; ele deixou carta suicida UOP Noticias

    Report Post » veramalinowska  
    • ThomasBombadillo
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 3:33pm

      Translated:
      “Sister of shooter says he was connected to Islam and did not leave too far from home, he left suicide note UOP News”
      Is anyone surprised that AP left this part out?

      Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 12:59pm

    Let me guess…the gunman‘s name was ’Bush’……heh heh

    Report Post »  
  • Zorba53
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 12:59pm

    No doubt the gunman has relatives in the U. S. that are Tea Party members and he’s been listening to the hateful rhetoric. NOT!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • integrican
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 12:54pm

    That gunman sure was mean. I mean, man, he was a mean man with a gun…a mean gunman, you know what I mean. Sorry…I was just spoofing on the typo in the headline. The other thing that perplexed me is why is there a 15 year old in an elementary school?

    This is indeed sad, wherever it happens.

    Report Post » integrican  
  • MidwestConservativeCoalition
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 12:51pm

    The second amendment strikes again! (sarcasm)

    Report Post » MidwestConservativeCoalition  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 12:53pm

      Heaven help up. My prayers go out to all those affected.

      Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 12:56pm

      18 years is a long time to hold a grudge. Kill yourself, but don’t kill innocent people who are not involved in your problems. Doesn’t say if he succeeded in killing himself.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Creestof
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 12:57pm

      Probably mad that he was too old to be in the photo-op with Obama playing soccer.

      All kidding aside, I hope he rots in hell.

      Report Post »  
    • Rearden Steel
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 12:58pm

      Another impossible story – shootings cannot occur in Gun Free Zones. Right liberals?

      No, I think I’m mistaken. It’s self defense that is impossible in Gun Free Zones.

      How many people will die as a result of those liberal policies disarming law-abiding citizens?

      Report Post »  
    • J.C. McGlynn
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:05pm

      I hope those who were wounded return to good health soon and grieve for those who died unnecessarily. Unfortunately, this proves one person armed with the will to use a weapon can defend many although others will say a ban is the only thing that will work.

      Report Post » J.C. McGlynn  
    • BIGJAYINPA
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:31pm

      Somehow this is going to end up our fault. Those damn hateful right wing gun nuts etc, clinging to guns and religion. If only we could pass some “reasonable” gun laws and stop exprting our violent rethoric around the world…blah blah blah. Face it people-crazy people do crazy things and there is no way to stop them.

      Report Post » BIGJAYINPA  
    • theonefromabove
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:34pm

      My prayers go out to the families.

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:52pm

      Prayers out to the dead and wounded and their families and friends.

      I wonder if it was a gun free zone? Or “sitting duck zone”?

      Report Post »  
    • avenger
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 6:38pm

      probably an NEA member that was fired…

      Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on April 8, 2011 at 6:56am

      $100.00 says America is blamed.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • I Love Section 8 Housing
      Posted on April 9, 2011 at 3:02am

      the only thing scarier than a crazed gunman is a bunch or rightwingers pulling out their own guns. in your mind you‘d be a hero but you’d probably end up killing more people with your panicky shots.

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  

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