Massacre at Rio de Janeiro's Public High School

Earlier today Brazil suffered one of its saddest days in recent history.  It started when Wellington Menezes de Oliveira, a 23-year-old man, invaded a public school in the city of Rio de Janeiro.  He then took the life of a dozen 12- to 14-year old students.  When he was done shooting at others, he killed himself.

The reason of the massacre is unknown, but it is clear that the assassin suffered from some form of physiological disorder.  Rio’s police found in the shooter’s home a letter expressing his final wishes and the ways he wanted to be buried.  The furniture and electrical appliances of his home were also destroyed.

This tragic event reminds us of similar massacres that have taken stage in the USA, such as VA Tech’s episode from 2005.  Just like with past events, the reasons for such bizarre acts are hard to find.  Unfortunately, they are becoming more common.  We ask ourselves many questions.  How could’ve this been avoided? What signs were there to stop this from happening? What could possibly take a young man to resort to such actions? Etc., etc. We all want to know the answers, but at this moment, we must pause and share our thoughts and heartfelt feelings with the victims and their families.

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8 thoughts on “Massacre at Rio de Janeiro's Public High School

  1. When I see something so terrible as this case, or any case of violence against human being, all I can think of is: we are lacking of love. We are not giving enoug love and attention to our family, friends, co-workers, classmates… We spend our lives worring about too many things as money, career, fashion, reputation, among many other things, that we forget to look into the eyes of people we are talking to, that we forget to teach moral to our kids, to teach friendship, to tell them what is right and wrong…
    I believe this killer never had the attention he actually needed, that no one realized he had this troubled mind and he needed help, people are always too busy for that, or they simply don't care, which is even worse.
    I'm sad, very sad about how worthless life is becoming to other people, and how love is being forgotten.
    How long will it take to humanity realize the values we are missing and start working to get it back?
    I hope not too long…

  2. When I see something so terrible as this case, or any case of violence against human being, all I can think of is: we are lacking of love. We are not giving enoug love and attention to our family, friends, co-workers, classmates… We spend our lives worring about too many things as money, career, fashion, reputation, among many other things, that we forget to look into the eyes of people we are talking to, that we forget to teach moral to our kids, to teach friendship, to tell them what is right and wrong…
    I believe this killer never had the attention he actually needed, that no one realized he had this troubled mind and he needed help, people are always too busy for that, or they simply don’t care, which is even worse.
    I’m sad, very sad about how worthless life is becoming to other people, and how love is being forgotten.
    How long will it take to humanity realize the values we are missing and start working to get it back?
    I hope not too long…

  3. That's not only a social disease, is a sign that the times are leading people to depression, self loathing and solitude – jobs are more and more rare, the competition is becoming unbearable for this generation, in his case, this boy blamed his present situation on what happened at high school. It may have affected him, but his pre-disposal to commit murder (pre-disposition genetically and environmentally) turned him into a time bomb, maybe if he had a good job and more opportunities, he would have not do what he did. And someone with a tendency for murder who get exposed to violence on a daily basis through the internet, TV and so, start to see it as a way of getting attention and making a difference in a wrong way.
    People should start showing some surprise… ..violence is not normal.

  4. That’s not only a social disease, is a sign that the times are leading people to depression, self loathing and solitude – jobs are more and more rare, the competition is becoming unbearable for this generation, in his case, this boy blamed his present situation on what happened at high school. It may have affected him, but his pre-disposal to commit murder (pre-disposition genetically and environmentally) turned him into a time bomb, maybe if he had a good job and more opportunities, he would have not do what he did. And someone with a tendency for murder who get exposed to violence on a daily basis through the internet, TV and so, start to see it as a way of getting attention and making a difference in a wrong way.
    People should start showing some surprise… ..violence is not normal.

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