2026 Rio Branco school shooting
School shooting in Brazil
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On 5 May 2026, a 13-year-old boy opened fire at the Instituto São José school in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil. The shooter killed two school workers and injured two other people, including an 11-year-old student, before being apprehended by police.[2][3][4]
| 2026 Rio Branco school shooting | |
|---|---|
  Rio Branco | |
| Location | Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil |
| Date | 5 May 2026 c.1:30 p.m. (UTC−05:00) |
| Target | Students and Staff |
Attack type | School Shooting, Mass shooting |
| Weapons | .38 TPC Taurus GX2 semi-automatic pistol |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Injured | 2 |
| Perpetrator | 13-year old male student[1] |
| Defender | Detained by the police |
| Motive | Under investigation |
Shooting
At 13:30, the 13-year-old student entered the school with a gun and opened fire.[5] Since the school was undergoing renovations, other students thought the shooting sounds were coming from the construction activity.[6] A worker of a hotel next to the school said that some students tried to climb a six-meter wall next to the hotel; only one was successful, and they hid in the hotel.[7] The shooter later surrendered to the police.
Victims
Perpetrator
The perpetrator was identified as a 13-year-old student who used his stepfather’s .38 TPC pistol. His stepfather is a lawyer.[11] Authorities are investigating the motives behind the attack, including the possibility of school bullying.[12] According to investigators, some students knew of the plan in advance.[13]
Aftermath
Shortly after the attack ended, students formed a prayer circle in the school's pitch.[14]
After the attack, the municipal governments of Rio Branco and Acre suspended classes at all schools and high schools in the region for three days (8 May 2026).[15] The classes will be returned in the Monday (11 May 2026).[16] The government also announced measures such as follow-up care for the victims of the attack and psychological support for students and teachers.[16]
The shooter’s stepfather responsible for the gun was fired from his state government job and also detained, later released after being charged with neglecting to keep the gun away from a child's reach, a misdemeanor under Brazilian gun laws.[17][18][19]