Shooting attack at convenience store in Paraná: two dead and young woman loses eyesight
A 15-year-old adolescent opened fire in a convenience store in Campo Mourão, Paraná, killing two men and injuring three others. The suspect's mother was detained with explosive material.
Two dead and three injured in shooting attack at convenience store in Campo Mourão
A 15-year-old adolescent opened fire on customers at a convenience store in Campo Mourão, in the north of Paraná, on Friday evening (17), killing two men and seriously injuring three other people. According to reports from g1.globo.com, the young suspect turned himself in to the police station on Monday morning (20) and confessed to the attack.
Marcio Bertholdo Geraldo, 43 years old, and Michael Zachytko Cavalcante, 38, were hit by the gunfire and died at the scene. A 41-year-old man was hospitalised in a private hospital in the city; his family reported that, contrary to what the Civil Police had initially indicated, the movement of his legs was not compromised. The 40-year-old woman identified as the sole intentional target of the attack is in a coma and in critical condition at the Santa Casa de Campo Mourão.
23-year-old woman loses vision in left eye
Izabela Roberto de Carvalho, 23 years old, who was not the target of the attack and was at the establishment by chance, lost the vision in her left eye and was left with a bullet lodged in her ribs. Her mother, Alessandra Roberto, relayed the information to g1.globo.com.
Izabela underwent emergency surgery on Saturday (18) to preserve the vision of her right eye and prevent further damage, as one of the projectiles struck an area near the brain. The doctors chose not to remove the bullet lodged in her ribs, as it posed no immediate risk.
"She is speaking and is conscious about everything that has happened; she remembers everything, up to the moment of the shots. [...] I was terrified, frightened, because we never imagine that this will happen to our child. I am sad about the trauma she has been through, because it will be for life, but very grateful for the miracle that God allowed her to be alive. The neurologist himself told me that my miracle is there, because it was by millimetres that the worst did not happen", declared Alessandra.
Suspect wore balaclava; motive was revenge
Security camera footage recorded the moment when an individual wearing a balaclava approached the convenience store on foot, pointed a gun at the interior of the establishment and opened fire. Customers threw themselves to the ground while others ran in panic. The authorities cordoned off the location; the Civil Police and Scientific Police conducted an investigation of the scene.
Police reported that the crime was motivated by revenge, without releasing additional details, and stressed that the other victims — aside from the woman identified as the target — had no known connection with the adolescent, who had no prior criminal record.
Suspect's mother detained with explosive material
Paraná's Public Security Secretariat (SESP) reported that the adolescent's mother was arrested on Saturday (18). At her residence, approximately 500 metres of detonating cord, two rounds of ammunition, quantities of narcotics and antennae for a signal blocker were found. The bomb squad carried out technical handling of the explosive material.
"[The mother] was arrested in flagrante for being in possession of two rounds of ammunition, quantities of narcotics, antennae for a signal blocker and explosive material. The investigation is ongoing to clarify her relationship with the crime", stated SESP in a statement. The adolescent's girlfriend was also brought to the police station, but was questioned and subsequently released.
Company and bar sector regret the incident
Vip Empório, the company that owns the establishment, expressed "regret and immense sadness" and extended condolences to the families of the victims and the community. "We unite in prayer for the victims, for their families, and for all those who face the consequences of this tragedy", reads the company's statement.
The president of the Brazilian Association of Bars and Nightclubs (ABRABAR), Fábio Aguayo, condemned the episode and appealed for confidence in the authorities. "ABRABAR condemns any and all forms of violence. Bars, restaurants and nightclubs are spaces for social interaction, leisure, entertainment and job creation, frequented daily by thousands of people and families. Cases such as this are exceptions and do not reflect the reality of the sector", stressed Aguayo, adding that the association has confidence in the work of the security forces to hold those responsible accountable. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: CNN Portugal