Guilherme Taucci Monteiro
Born July 5, 2001 in Mogi das Cruzes. His mother Tatiana Taucci and father Rogerio Machado were never married, his father abandoning the boy almost immediately after his birth. Struggling with substance addiction, Tatiana was unable to raise Guilherme. Benedito Luiz Cardoso and Arlete Taucci, the boy’s grandparents, raised him and eventually his two younger sisters at their home in Suzano. Growing up, his father remained inactive in his life, despite residing in the same city.
Monteiro was always gentle and good with his sisters. Often, picking them up from school. He had two other siblings on his mother’s side. Vitor, who was born before him, and in 2015, a daughter named Vitoria. They lived and were raised by their fathers. Online, it has been suspected that Tatiana gave birth to a son after the massacre, but no other details have been found on that.
In his teen years, Monteiro would take on a real interest in learning things of all kinds. Although most likely not attaining fluency, he familiarized himself with the English language and used it to chat in online games and chats.
From about the age of thirteen, he began working. For his first known job, he worked alongside his maternal uncle, Antonio de Moraes, who owned a car dealership. Jorginho Veículos. At fifteen, Monteiro was fired from the dealership after being accused of stealing from the business.
The last reported job he had was at a hot dog kiosk, “Suzan Dog,” where he made just over $100 a month. Other employers and people in the community would comment saying he was quiet, but his introverted tendencies never caused concern. However, at the internet cafe he and Castro would go to play games such as Call of Duty and Mortal Kombat at, he was more relaxed with his image. Nadia Cordeiro, an employee at the internet cafe (Lan House) recalled him yelling, cursing, and even wearing a necklace containing a Nazi symbol.
The last year of his life was a downward spiral. He allegedly suffered bullying for having long hair, acne and was humiliated after peers found adult films his mother had been in. However, some claiming to have known him would say he was a bully if anything. Teachers claimed he was a student who caused little to no problems in the two years he studied at the school.
In an attempt to help the boy, Benedito had purchased Roaccutane (accutane) which cleared his skin.
Tatiana also attested to his claims of being bullied. As far as what she would say about her son, he was a normal teenage boy. He had what she called “emo” interests in clothes, music, and Creepypasta stories which he would create drawings of in a notebook discovered by police. It’s noticed that his interest in these dark stories stretched over the course of some years after comments on videos about them were found from five years ago. Besides Creepypastas, the notebook also contained drawings of popular game Five Nights at Freddy’s, notes for the massacre, and strange English phrases. “Leave me alone” and “Can’t run” are two examples.
Towards the end of 2018, he would drop out after his Sophomore year. The most notable reason being bullying. Around this time, suspicions of him suffering from depression were noted by his grandfather. May or may be in relation to his grandmother passing away in December of that same year, only months before the massacre.
Luiz Henrique de Castro
The youngest with two older brothers, Luiz Henrique de Castro was born March 16th of 1993 in Suzano. He was raised by his two parents Maria J. A. de Castro and Miguel Castro, his grandfather living with the family too. He lived next to Monteiro, which explains despite their eight year age gap, the two were close childhood friends. Due to having a “weak mind” as described by those close to him, the loyalty he demonstrated to Taucci was able to be taken advantage of. According to his father, he was said to be mentally closer to Taucci’s age.
How he spent his childhood isn’t very clear apart from his education history. Castro would attend five schools in his lifetime, all in Suzano. He studied at a total of five schools throughout his life, E. E. Prof. Raul Brasil being one of them. In his eighth grade year, it seems he had struggled, repeating it three times.
A couple years after completing high school, he got his driver’s license. It wasn’t until he was 24 or 25 that he got his first job. The job was city and outdoor maintenance, he worked alongside his father and made the USD equivalent of $260. This job financed the majority of supplies the boys used in the massacre, totaling just over $1,000 USD.
He had aspirations to work as a police officer like his father did formerly. One could say his father’s background with the law caused him to be more cautious in the planning of the massacre.
He achieved normal things for his age, leaving nobody to suspect his darker capabilities. “He really liked video games, he played soccer,” César Expedido recalls of his friend. Not incredibly active on social media, he did have a Facebook and Twitter (X) account.
His Twitter (X) (@LZHRDC) is still up today but empty beside the profile photo and banner he also used on Facebook. His Facebook showed interest in rock music like Iron Maiden, guns, Russia and even anime. He never had much interest in girls. It never caused high concern, but his family and neighbors recall memories of him being a reserved boy, extremely quiet, but friendly and respectful. He didn’t cause many problems for his parents, his father saying they only argued over curfew times.
Motives, Planning, and Copycats
With the potential to be innocent, an interest in true crime found its way onto Monteiro’s radar. Allegedly, he was only thirteen years old when discovering the 1999 Columbine massacre. Arguably, the most notorious and infamous school massacre to occur. Adding his name to the list of Columbine copycat killers, this case would be a dark inspiration to him. Other killers such as Elliot Roger, Nikolas Cruz, Anders Behring Brevik, and Timothy McVeigh, many of which he would mention on a twitter account he owned by the handle of “D33ployyyz.” An account with hundreds of tweets expressing his high disapproval of the Brazilian government and pessimistic guesses for his future likely show insight to what led him to such tragedy.
Castro-specific motives are completely unknown. Many of the factors we do know about him poke at the fact he likely had an undiagnosed learning and/or mental disability. One user online reports that after speaking to people relative to Suzano, Monteiro on occasion would talk to him rudely while the two were together often. Taking into account Castro’s immaturity and low confidence, it’s possible his ill-minded friend would influence him into mindsets that helped him go through with the massacre.
Throughout many of his appearances on CCTV, he seems to be on edge, in a rush, and skittish in temperament despite Monteiro acting with ease and no concern. He gathers all his supplies in the car, unlike Monteiro who gets out and stands in the street. He shuts every door Monteiro leaves open, drawing less attention, meanwhile Monteiro seems to think it doesn’t matter as he behaves very calmly. We do know he had thoughts of backing out, but Monteiro ensured that wouldn’t happen with his leadership over the massacre, and seemingly the friendship itself.
Police and investigators reported the massacre had been planned for about a year before the crime. This is about the same time their blueprint shooting at Columbine high school had been planned. Despite being the youngest, Monteiro has been labeled as the “mastermind” or “leader” in the crime. Along with him and Castro, another seventeen year old boy would discuss plans for committing the crime. Guilherme Vitor Grilo de Oliveira. In messages shown on local news channels, Monteiro and Grilo discussed practising their techniques at a local airsoft. CCTV footage from just over a week before the massacre shows Monteiro experimenting with a bow and arrow before heading in. In a now deleted Youtube channel belonging to Monteiro, a video was posted of him practising with a bow and arrow.
Five days before the massacre, Monteiro is seen on video surveillance entering and leaving a shop where he bought a bow kit and arrows for nearly $300 in total.
They were able to illegally obtain one gun. The .38 caliber revolver used in the attack along with the ammunition were supplied by Geraldo De Oliveira Santos, Cristiano Cardias de Souza and Adeilton Pereira dos Santos. The three who sold the gun were arrested, then released after defenses gave them a release permit.
Other weapons used include a Vixion Scorpion Composite bow (Unused), Mang-Kung MK-150A1PB crossbow (Unused), hatchet (Used), and the two fake bombs.
Monteiro’s prior knowledge of criminals acted as an inspiration for him. Specifically the two Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Similarities are seen through their use of molotov cocktails, and the bombs that failed to detonate in both crimes. However, in the case of the Suzano massacre, they were fake and only intended to create more fear and divert the attention of police.
A pen drive was supposedly found in the pocket of Monteiro at the time of his death. What exactly was on this pendrive is unknown to the public, but considering their admiration for Harris and Klebold, it’s said to be a take on the “Basement Tapes.” The Basement Tapes were a recording, also unreleased to the public, where Harris and Klebold on the morning of their massacre talked about their motives, plans, obtention of firearms, and feelings regarding regret and remorse. As of now, police have no intentions of releasing its content.
One of the later plans included each of the two suspects targeting an additional person outside of the school. In a tragic success, Monteiro would be responsible for the death of his Uncle, Jorge Antonio de Moraes. The motive behind this was retaliation from being fired two years prior to the attack. He had been accused of stealing from the automotive shop owned by Moraes.
As for Castro, he was to take the life of a neighbor, an electrician who he’d argued with in the past. Luckily for the man, he did not answer as Castro called for him just outside the gate in front of his house.
Following the attempts, they would head over to the school that both suspects spent time attending. Finally, the two would commit suicide. Essentially, making sure neither lived to see the punishment. Police claimed the two had a ‘suicide pact’ which would take place when the two heard law enforcement getting close.
March 13, 2019
Castro ensured no suspicions would be raised. The Wednesday morning of the massacre was no exception. He went along with his father to work that morning as normal. However, after beginning, he told his father he would go back home, reporting he had been feeling sick. Not knowing it would be the last interaction with his son, his father shortly received a call around 9am from his mother who hadn’t seen her son return yet. Instead of going home, it’s assumed he used this time to meet up with his accomplice in the car they rented legally and kept in a nearby garage. It was between leaving work and meeting up with Monteiro that he likely attempted to call for his neighbor, but the man either didn’t respond, or was luckily not home at the time of Castro’s plot to murder.
With his family still asleep, Monteiro left his house around the hour of 7am and met up with Castro to discuss final execution plans and do drive-by assessments of both the car shop and school. In a thirty minute span of driving, the two were recorded by CCTV driving by the school’s entrance three times. Minutes after 9am, the first three shots would ring out. CCTV footage captures the to-be assassin casually walking down the street towards his uncle’s shop. Jorge Antonio de Moraes, the owner of Jorginho Veiculos was on the phone when he heard his name shouted, recalls sales manager, Rodrigo Cardi. Upon attending to the request, Monteiro fired three shots at his uncle. Shortly after and in critical condition, he was rushed to the hospital where he would succumb to his injuries.
CCTV footage again shows Monteiro running down the street, returning to the car where Castro remained. From there, the two set on their way to Escola Estadual Professor Raul Brasil. It was now, around 9:30, that Monteiro uploaded the thirty photos of himself. From selfies to poses where he aimed the gun at the camera.
CCTV footage shows as the white Chevy Onyx pulls parallel into a spot by the school’s entrance. Immediately, Monteiro is seen getting out of the car. He takes a quick glance around before swinging on a backpack, and keeping a notebook in his hands. Before walking down the path towards the entrance, he exchanges final words to Castro. Throughout the entirety, he remains with an extremely calm and casual demeanor.
Once he’s out of sight of the camera, Castro closes the passenger door from inside and stays in the car. The signal for him to make his way inside would most likely have been the first gunshots in the school as he is seen entering moments after Monteiro’s exit.
It was about 9:40 that Monteiro fired the first shots inside the school. He calmly walked in, drawing no attention as he tossed the notebook on the floor and pulled the revolver from the front of his waistband. Here in the corridor he claimed the lives of two staff members, Marilena Ferreira Vieira Umezu and Eliana Regina de Oliveira Xavier and also two students, Kaio and Caio. Being in the same vicinity, students were also injured. After firing several times, he got closer to the door leading out into the patio where more students were. Leaving his backpack and sweatshirt on the floor, he raised the gun in front of him in search of more victims. He exits the camera’s view and heads across the patio to the school language center.
Momentarily, footage shows Castro aggressively opening the car door to begin running toward and entering the corridor. The signal for him to make his way inside would most likely have been the first gunshots in the school as he is seen entering only moments after Monteiro’s exit.
As the recent shots were fired and nobody was around, he dropped the cross bows and set down the duffel bag which held fake bombs. In a hard to watch video, you see as he picks up remorselessly strikes already deceased victims several times using a hatchet.
As a result of Monteiros progression throughout the school, students rush to escape, unknowingly retracing his steps that led to Castro. After the strikes, he drops the hatchet and is seen trying to take something out of his pant leg, as a lone student runs in. This student is Rhyllary Barbosa, a 15-year-old with a skilled background in jiu-jitsu. These skills helped her escape the grasp of an unarmed Castro who grabbed her, and repeatedly threw punches to her head. As soon as she freed herself, a mob of students flooded the area in which Castro takes it upon himself to loosely strike as they head for the other door. In the crowd, Jose Vitor Ramos. who was struck so intensely that the hatchet had got stuck in his shoulder, though he kept running.
Once the corridor clears, Castro meets with Monteiro in the school’s patio section. It’s here that 16 year old Beatriz Gonçalves Fernandes is shot three times while trying to protect her friend, Letícia Mello Nunes. Nunes had suffered stab wounds after Monteiro used a machete stored in his waistband. Despite the wounds suffered by both girls, they survived.
Heroic action was taken by a student’s father who had been at the school to collect paperwork. The man is captured on CCTV making his way throughout the school on the phone with police as he encounters the two assassins. Running in a zigzag pattern, a technique known for dodging bullets, he successfully missed all three shots fired at him.
Following the path the father took, Castro and Monteiro find themselves back in the main corridor, where most footage is recorded. At this point, they seem to be done with the climax of their massacre. Monteiro knows he’s being recorded on the cameras, which lead him to being seen kicking a deceased body and directly flipping off the security camera.
After getting away safely, the student’s father finds an off duty armed police officer who then enters the school with his gun drawn in search of the assassins. At this time, the two attempt to enter the school’s Spanish room. Despite Castro’s threats and swings at the door, they fail to get access into the room.
The police began to show up and the two shooters realized time was running out. Only feet from the Spanish room, they enter the area where their bodies would be found.
The off duty police officer and military police announced their presence to the shooters, and that they were now surrounded.
Castro had expressed a desire to surrender in opposition to Monteiro who insisted on following the schedule of Harris and Klebold. It was between this disagreement and having only one firearm that led to Monteiro fatally shooting his accomplice before commiting suicide with a single shot to the head. The final ensurance that their massacre would resemble Columbine as closely as possible.
Immediate Aftermath
Once identified, a search of Monteiro’s bedroom after the massacre led authorities to find his computer, notebooks, clothing, burned photos of the suspect’s parents, and empty wrappers of candy from his last hours.
Quickly identified and known as the third suspect involved, Guilherme Grilo de Oliveira, was originally supposed to be at the massacre. Why wasn’t he? It ranges from “He wasn’t serious about doing it.”, “He didn’t think they were serious.” to his father suggesting Grilo and Monteiro had an argument over a girl at some point in the weeks leading up. Conflicting religious beliefs also played a role, as Monteiro was an atheist and Grilo a Christian.
It was suspected he proposed the idea of raping girls at the school and killing their boyfriends, though neither Monteiro nor Castro would entertain it. Allegedly, Grilo owned a spare phone that was used for matters relating to the killings. (u/SausadeinSausa – Reddit) After the shooting, eleven phones were seized from within the school, his second phone being one. Originally believed to be Monteiro’s, it was later discovered not to be the case as he was left in the rental car outside.
After being interrogated and put through a hearing, Grilo was sentenced to forty five days in Fundação Casa (House Foundation). Fundação Casa is a center for juveniles who have been involved in crimes. Through socio-educational measures, adolescents can expect to study, build life skills, and prepare to be released as more educated and socially developed individuals.
Victims And Services
The final report of victims includes:
- Jorge Antônio de Moraes, 51
- Marilena Ferreira Vieira Umezu, 59
- Eliana Regina de Oliveira Xavier, 38
- Caio Oliveira, 15
- Claiton Antônio Ribeiro, 17
- Kaio Lucas da Costa Limeira, 15
- Samuel Melquíades Silva, 16
- Douglas Murilo Celestino, 16
The day following the massacre, a large wake for six of the eight victims was held in a large volleyball arena. Many attended to give final goodbyes and condolences to the victim’s families.
With a ceremony lasting only five minutes, both Monteiro and Castro were buried at the municipal São João Batista cemetery.
Throughout the years as people visited, they stopped directing people to the burial sites. Photos can be seen of Monteiro’s grave with flowers, overgrown grass, and even a birthday cake and hat left shortly after his 18th birthday.
Today, Monteiro is no longer buried there as his remains were cremated after his temporary burial site expired.
School Reformation
In October of 2019, the renovations began to E.E Raul Brasil. Six months and over half a million dollars were spent to improve the security, classrooms, expand the library, and redo the gymnasium court.
The gate which wraps around the entire school was repainted with various vibrant pieces of art to honor the victims of the massacre. Displayed in the school’s patio, a mural of a student and teacher was created by Brazilian street artist, Eduardo Kobra.
Disclaimer
This is a case I’ve spent the last five years researching on and off. I’ve spoken to many people who are closer geographically to the case, with more local knowledge so I want to thank all of these people. With that being said, I’ve recounted as much as I could regarding sites and proper credits. Contact me with any other sources.
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