Lyedja Santos, an 11th-grade student from Brazil, had attempted to carry out a mass shooting at the E Berilo Wanderley School in Natal, Brazil, but was foiled by a hero classmate
A hero schoolboy snagged his classmate’s mass shooting plot by pinning her to the ground as her gun jammed – but only after she was able to claim one victim.
Police descended on the town of Natal in northern Brazil on Tuesday following reports that a 19-year-old girl had shot a classmate at the E Berilo Wanderley School. Officials said the girl, who has since been named as Lyedja Santos, wanted to find “peace” with herself when she shot an 18-year-old classmate.
Santos had then reportedly walked into a classroom where students were preparing to take a test and attempted to shoot a teacher, but her gun miraculously jammed. At that moment, the 11th grader was pinned to the floor after being rushed by one of her male classmates.
A student in the classroom at the time of the attempted attack told local media that the moment her gun jammed, she turned and attempted to run. Speaking to TV Cabugi, they added that their classmate “jumped on top of her and managed to pull her away” while she tried to flee.
They said: “We were in the classroom about to take the test and she called her friends to talk to her, to talk about the classroom. A short time passed, about a minute, and we only heard the shot. We didn’t know for sure if it was a shot, we thought it was a bomb. She entered the classroom armed, aimed at the teacher’s head, but the gun jammed.
“When it jammed, she turned her back to try to run, and the boy in the classroom jumped on top of her and managed to pull her away.” Following the attempted massacre, authorities said they uncovered a handwritten note explaining Santos’ motive, with the 11th-grader explaining she acted alone and that she expected to die.
She wrote: “I acted alone, I acquired everything on my own and no one knew anything about it. To my friends and family, I thank you for everything you have done for me and I am sorry for everything I have caused. I would never have dreamed of dying like this, but this was the best option.
“I loved each and every one of you, even if I didn’t show it. I hope you understand and forgive me, because that is the only way I will find peace.” Santos was ultimately unable to kill anyone in the attempted massacre, with the fellow 11th grader she shot now in a stable condition at Monsenhor Walfredo Gurgel Hospital after the bullet entered and exited her body.
Rio Grande do Norte Military Police officers said they recovered a .38 calibre revolver Santos had in her possession, three knives, and several books about serial killers.
