Luiz Henrique de Lima was a 25-year-old Brazilian man from Blumenau, Santa Catarina. Publicly available information about his early life is limited due to a shift in Brazilian media ethics that discourages publishing the identities of mass murderers in order to reduce potential copycat crimes. What is known is that Luiz Henrique had a history of violent and erratic behavior long before the massacre that shocked the nation.

He had previously been arrested for drug possession and charged with violent offenses, including stabbing his stepfather and even injuring a family pet. Although he had never been formally diagnosed with any psychiatric disorder, authorities reported that he had displayed signs of behavioral instability. Despite that, medical evaluations during his trial concluded that Luiz Henrique was fully sane at the time of the crime and capable of distinguishing right from wrong.

Investigations later revealed that his attack on the daycare was not a sudden outburst, but a premeditated act. Starting on March 15, 2023, he began researching different models of axes online and also searched for videos and records of similar school attacks.

On the morning of April 5, 2023, around 9:00 a.m. local time, Luiz Henrique de Lima carried out one of the deadliest attacks against children in Brazilian history. He entered the Cantinho Bom Pastor daycare center in Blumenau by climbing over a wall, carrying a hatchet and other concealed weapons. Around 40 children were present at the time, many playing in the school’s playground.

The attack was frenzied and horrifyingly swift. Luiz Henrique began by swinging his hatchet at the children, primarily aiming at their heads. At one point, the hatchet became lodged in a child's skull, forcing him to switch weapons. He then pulled out a golden butterfly knife and continued his rampage. According to eyewitnesses, he stomped on one of the injured survivors' heads. The entire attack lasted approximately 20 seconds.

Four children between the ages of five and seven were killed. Five others, aged three to five, were seriously injured and rushed to nearby hospitals. Thankfully, all surviving victims were released the following day. The trauma, however, lingered throughout the community and the country.

After teachers intervened to protect the children, Luiz Henrique fled the scene. Instead of attempting to escape justice, he walked to a nearby police station and turned himself in. His swift surrender led to immediate arrest and a national outpouring of grief and outrage.

Following the attack, several other attempted school stabbings occurred across Brazil. Experts from the University of São Paulo warned of a “contagion window,” a psychological effect whereby media coverage of one attack can inspire copycats within a short time frame. Within two weeks, multiple other knife attacks occurred at schools in Manaus, Goiás, and Ceará. Many school administrations suspended classes or increased security as threats circulated on social media.

Due to these concerns, Brazil’s major media outlets, including Grupo Globo and O Estado de S. Paulo, announced a permanent policy to stop publishing the names or images of school attackers. Their goal was to deny notoriety to perpetrators and prevent additional crimes fueled by attention-seeking motives.

Despite initial speculation of mental illness, authorities concluded that Luiz Henrique acted with clear premeditation. The trial revealed he had spent weeks researching weapons and mass attacks. On August 29, 2024, Luiz Henrique de Lima was sentenced to 220 years in prison. He was found guilty of four counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. The court applied multiple aggravating factors including cruelty, use of deadly weapons, crimes against children under 14, and premeditated intent. He is not eligible to appeal while free.