Guwahati: As many as 11 people have been severely injured and three people were dead after an armed shooter who opened fire at two schools in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo on Friday, national media reported citing Brazilian authorities.
According to reports, the shooter who started shooting at Brazilian schools was using a semi-automatic rifle that was seen on security film. The alleged shooter was discovered to be dressed in military gear with his or her face covered.
However, the shooter is suspected to be a 16-year-old. Notably, the attack occured in the small town of Aracruz which is located 50 miles north of the state capital Vitoria, as per reports.
The governor of Espirito Santo, Renato Casagrande confirmed in a tweet on Friday, “security teams caught up with the attacker who, cowardly, attacked two schools in Aracruz. I declared three days of official mourning as a sign of grief for the irreparable losses. We will continue to investigate the reasons and, soon, we will have new clarifications.”
“The attacks took place at the Primo Bitti school and the Praia de Coqueiral Educational Center,” said the Governor.
The twin shootouts were described as “absurd tragedy,” the president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, wrote on Twitter. “I was saddened to learn of the attacks at the Aracruz schools in Espirito Santo. My sympathies are with the victims’ families in this senseless tragedy.”
“My support goes out to Governor Casagrande in investigating the case and comforting the communities surrounding the two affected schools,” he added.