Teen Stabs Students in Brazil School, Killing 9-Year-Old
A violent attack at a school in Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has left a 9-year-old boy dead and two others injured after a 16-year-old student carried out a knife attack, authorities said.
The incident occurred in the municipality of Estacao, where the teenager entered the school premises under the pretense of delivering a resume, according to Estacao’s mayor, Geverson Zimmermann. Once inside, he launched the brutal assault.
Local news outlet G1 reported that the suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed due to his age, used a knife in the attack. In addition to the 9-year-old boy who succumbed to his injuries after being stabbed multiple times in the thorax, a teacher and another child were also wounded. Police confirmed that the attacker was arrested shortly after the incident.
“The boy was stabbed several times in the thorax region and he ended up not surviving,” Mayor Zimmermann told local radio Uirapuru.
Authorities said the teenage suspect was known to teachers at the school and was undergoing psychological treatment, although no further details were released. Police stated that the teen had no previous criminal record and that an investigation is underway to determine the motive behind the assault.
Following the tragedy, Estacao’s town hall announced that classes in the area would be suspended for an indefinite period as the community mourns the loss and grapples with the shock of the violent episode.
Governor Eduardo Leite expressed his condolences and emphasized the need for stronger measures to protect students and staff in schools. “What happened cannot be normalised, downplayed, or forgotten,” he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He pledged to reinforce security strategies and psychological support programs within the state’s educational institutions.
School attacks have become increasingly frequent in Brazil over the past few years, raising concerns about the safety of students and staff across the country. In a devastating incident in 2023, four young children were killed when a man armed with a hatchet entered a day care center in the neighboring state of Santa Catarina, leaving communities deeply traumatized.
The latest attack has reignited discussions about mental health support for youth, school security protocols, and the broader social factors contributing to violence in educational settings. Authorities and educators are calling for urgent measures to prevent future tragedies and ensure that schools remain safe spaces for learning and development.
As the investigation continues, residents of Estacao and families affected by the attack are left to grieve and seek answers in the wake of an unimaginable loss.
