“I went to get a case of beer from the freezer, and when I put the key in the door [do mercado] to open I heard gunfire. I was scared because here, as far as we knew, no one had any enmity.” Message from merchant Gonçalves da Silva, who heard the shots of the massacre that killed four on Saturday evening (21) in Campo Era, in the far west of Santa Catarina.

Trader Gonçalves da Silva says he heard several shots. – Photo: Willian Ricardo/ND

The merchant has a market next to the bar and the house where it all happened. Nine people were injured in total, according to police. He recalls moments of tension he experienced. Shortly before the shooting started, he was playing truco at the bar, but decided to go home.

“Looks like something told me. I had a spiritual feeling to leave and I returned home. Maybe, too, could be amazed (sic in original)“, – comments Gonçalves.

He was a neighbor of the victims and claims that they were all good people. The coexistence was harmonious and many times they were the first customers of the day in the market. Hearing the shots, he asked his wife not to leave the house, and they both hid, fearing a stray bullet.

“It was scary. There were a lot of shots, from a revolver, out of 12. We have never seen anything like this,” he says.

shocking crime

The massacre shook the peaceful town of Campo Ere. The bar and the house where it all happened are located in the village of November 12, about 16 kilometers from the city center. There are 79 families living in the village.

According to civilian police, two brothers are suspected of the massacre, only one of whom is under arrest. The brothers would follow the road to the house behind the bar and kill the woman and the man. They then returned to the bar and killed the mother and daughter.

The victims of the massacre were: Carlos Delfino dos Santos, 63 years old, a native of Saudades; Emidia dos Santos, 53, was born in Campo-Era; Marinalva dos Santos, aged 18, daughter of Emidia; and Ana Claudia Schultz, 35, from Saltinho. Relationship between the family and Anna Claudia.

Emidia dos Santos, 53, was born in Campo-Era; Marinalva dos Santos, aged 18, daughter of Emidia; and Ana Claudia Schultz, 35, from Saltinho. – Photo: Montage from photo/Internet/Disclosure/ND

Three other men aged 26, 41 and 51 were injured, but two did not require medical attention and one had to be taken to the city hospital for a health assessment, the prime minister (military police) said. Two women were also victims of the attack, but police did not say if they were injured.

The cause of the massacre may have been the suicide of the brother of the suspects on Saturday afternoon, motivated by family problems.

A civilian police investigation revealed the shooter was a 32-year-old man who was accompanied by his 38-year-old brother, who was arrested on Saturday. The second suspect, 32, introduced himself to Prime Minister Saltinho. A 32-year-old man was arrested on Monday morning (23).

Some of the victims were killed and ended up in the wine cellar. – Photo: Willian Ricardo/ND

The man presented a firearm (shotgun caliber 12 GA), which, according to him, could be used to commit a crime, as well as seven ammunition of the appropriate caliber.

According to the civilian police, the provisional arrest is temporary and, as it is a serious crime, will have a term of 30 days, renewable for the same period, and a preventive arrest order may be issued.

After interrogation, the man was sent to the UPA (Forward Prison Section) of Sao José do Cedro/South Carolina. The investigation continues to find out the facts.