12 Students Killed in Brazil School Shooting, Gunman Commits Suicide

A heavily armed gunman entered an elementary school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Thursday and opened fire on students. Authorities identified the shooter as 23-year-old Wellington Menezes de Oliveira, a former student of the school.  

The Health and Civil Defense Department reported 10 female students and 2 male students were killed in the shooting. The children were between 12 and 15 years old. At least 13 students were injured.

Menezes de Oliveira was allowed to enter Municipal School Tasso da Silveira after claiming he needed his transcripts. He was armed with two handguns and opened fire immediately. Two police officers were notified of the situation by a student who fled the school. Third Sgt. Marcio Alexandre Alves, 38, shot Menezes de Oliveira in the abdomen. Menezes de Oliveira then committed suicide.

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