A 13-year-old student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) stabbed two classmates at a public school in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, capital of the state of Minas Gerais, for reasons that are still unclear.
The two injured, aged 12 and 13, were rescued and taken to Odilon Behrens Hospital for treatment, but were discharged several hours later and were able to return home.
The attack took place in the courtyard of the Governor Carlos Lacerda Municipal School in the Ipiranga region during a class break. The violent student, who family members say has other mental health problems in addition to autism, was arrested and taken to a police station that specializes in juvenile crimes.
One of the students, who was stabbed with a knife the attacker brought to school, was shot in the back while trying to escape the attack, while another was shot in the arms while trying to defend himself.
Since the family itself had already informed the school authorities about the boy’s problems, he was accompanied to class by an accompanying teacher, but since the attack occurred during a break, he was unaccompanied.