Teenager Arrested After Brazil School Shooting Kills Two

Panic tore through a school in northeast Brazil after a teenage boy opened fire, killing two staff members and wounding two others, including a student, as terrified pupils scrambled to flee by climbing over a wall, authorities and a witness said.

A 13-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the attack at Sao Jose Institute in Rio Branco, the capital of Acre state, according to a statement from the local government.

A witness said that as the gunfire erupted, some students tried to escape by scaling a wall that separates the school from a hotel.

“The wall is six metres high, and only one person managed to jump over and take refuge here in the hotel. The other people were left on the school roof trying to escape,” the witness said, adding that he heard “gunshots and a lot of screaming.”

Authorities had not yet determined whether the attacker was a current or former student at the school.

Police also arrested his legal guardian, who they said owned the firearm allegedly used in the shooting.

Acre police opened an investigation into the attack.

“In the face of this tragedy, the state expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, the school community of the Sao Jose Institute, and all education professionals affected by this event,” the state government said.

The government said classes had been suspended for three days at all schools across the state and that psychological support teams had been deployed to assist students and teachers.

Brazil has seen a rise in attacks on schools in recent years, with dozens of people killed.