04-07-2011, 10:31 AM
Wall Street Journal
RIO DE JANEIRO--Police confirmed at least 13 people were killed and more than 20 wounded early Thursday after a former student opened fire at a public elementary school in the western portion of the city.
Wellington Menezes de Oliveira, a 24-year-old former student at the Tasso da Silveira elementary school, entered the school with two loaded 38-caliber revolvers and opened fire before turning the gun on himself, police said.
Mr. Oliveira left a letter, saying that he wanted to commit suicide, officials said.
A police officer nearby responded to the cries of wounded children, cornering Mr. Oliveira and exchanging shots, police said. Mr. Oliveira was wounded in the leg before turning the gun on himself, according to initial reports from police.
The tragedy shocked the family-oriented Brazilian society, where violence against children is rare. The school is located in Realengo, in the west of a city widely known for its beaches and stunning natural beauty.
Civil Police Chief Marta Rocha and Military Police commander Mario Sergio were on the way to the site, a police spokeswoman said. Television images showed wounded being ferried to a nearby soccer field, where waiting helicopters were set to airlift victims to a local hospital.
RIO DE JANEIRO--Police confirmed at least 13 people were killed and more than 20 wounded early Thursday after a former student opened fire at a public elementary school in the western portion of the city.
Wellington Menezes de Oliveira, a 24-year-old former student at the Tasso da Silveira elementary school, entered the school with two loaded 38-caliber revolvers and opened fire before turning the gun on himself, police said.
Mr. Oliveira left a letter, saying that he wanted to commit suicide, officials said.
A police officer nearby responded to the cries of wounded children, cornering Mr. Oliveira and exchanging shots, police said. Mr. Oliveira was wounded in the leg before turning the gun on himself, according to initial reports from police.
The tragedy shocked the family-oriented Brazilian society, where violence against children is rare. The school is located in Realengo, in the west of a city widely known for its beaches and stunning natural beauty.
Civil Police Chief Marta Rocha and Military Police commander Mario Sergio were on the way to the site, a police spokeswoman said. Television images showed wounded being ferried to a nearby soccer field, where waiting helicopters were set to airlift victims to a local hospital.