Shooting at Campo Mourão convenience store leaves three dead and several injured
On the night of Friday, 17 July 2026, a masked gunman opened fire inside a convenience store at the corner of Avenida Guilherme de Paula Xavier and Rua Mato Grosso in Campo Mourão, Paraná, Brazil. The attack killed Marcio Bertholdi Geraldo (43) and Michael Zachytko Cavalcante (38) on the scene; a third victim, Veridiana Gaya Menin Machado Sate (40), died the following morning in hospital, bringing the death toll to three. Five other patrons were wounded, including a 40‑year‑old woman who was seriously injured.
Police identified a teenage suspect, aged 15‑16, who fled the scene and remains at large. Searches of the teenager’s home uncovered explosives, ammunition, drugs and signal‑jamming equipment; his mother was arrested for possession of the material. The investigation, led by the Paraná State Public Security Secretariat (SESP‑PR) together with the Military Police, Civil Police and Forensic Science teams, continues, with motive still unclear but a possible focus on the injured 40‑year‑old woman.
The incident prompted political reactions. Governor Ratinho Júnior said the crime “cannot go unpunished, even if committed by an adolescent,” and urged discussion on tougher penalties for youths. Senator Sergio Moro posted on X, stating that if an adolescent is confirmed as the perpetrator, it “reinforces the urgent need to review the age of criminal responsibility.”