‘He was not a bum’; in Manaus, young man killed with knife stabs attended school for only two days

Ívina Garcia – from Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – “Carlos was a worker, he was not a bum. It was his second day of school the night he died. He loved to play soccer and dreamed of being a policeman”, the line is from Milene da Silva Brito, the victim’s aunt.

Carlos Henrique da Silva Brito, 16, was killed with a stab wound to the heart after leaving the State School Isaac Swener, located on J Street, São José neighborhood, East Zone of Manaus. According to information from the Civil Police, the crime occurred around 5 pm, when a discussion began between Carlos and three other students.

The author, identified only as ‘Mateus’, arrived armed at the school and attacked Carlos and the other two boys, identified as Rodrigo – who is Carlos’ brother – and Bruno. Rodrigo was wounded in the neck and, after receiving treatment, is now at home.

Bruno, hit in the chest, remains hospitalized at Hospital e Pronto-Socorro João Lúcio. The suspect fled the scene after the action. The Specialized Homicide and Kidnapping Police (DEHS) investigates the case.

Family Version

According to the family, the argument had started the day before, when ‘Mateus’ had threatened another student at the school, identified as ‘Jhonata’. They would have started an argument after school leaving time. Carlos tried to punch Mateus, who deflected and hit him twice in the chest and twice in the legs.

Family members said they talked to a security guard at the school, who said he had seen Mateus with a gun. In conversation, the victims’ aunt, Milene Brito, said that everything could have been avoided if they had called the police on time.

“Everything that happened, the watchman was watching. They should have prevented it, called the victim. If they had called as soon as they saw the confusion, a police car would have quickly arrived at the scene, because they are near the school, in a shopping mall.

She says that the delay in answering the call may have led to Carlos’ death. “My nephew was left there in agony until he died. At the hospital, he also didn’t receive quick attention, they said there was no stretcher, he was carried on his friend’s lap”, said the aunt.

Milene asks for more security in schools. She says that cases like this tend to repeat themselves if nothing is done. “Every school should have more policing. These criminals, who call themselves students, are only going to do evil deeds, they don’t go to study, because those who go to study don’t go armed, they don’t carry any weapons. The student’s weapon is pencil, pen and book”, he concluded.

Secretariat follows up on investigations

In a note, the State Department of Education and Sports said that it is following up the investigations of the police occurrence registered in the surroundings of the Isaac Swener State School and that the Military Police was immediately called to verify the situation, according to standard procedure.

Also according to the agency, the incident occurred outside the premises of the school, after the departure of students from the afternoon shift, and that as soon as the movements were noticed, the management team triggered the ostensive policing.

After the incident, the school suspended the activities of the night shift on Wednesday, 22. The measure was taken to assist security agencies in investigating the case and ensure the safety of the school community.

“The Department of Education regrets what happened and reinforces that it values the safety and physical and mental integrity of the entire school community, always encouraging dialogue for conflict resolution”, concludes the note.