A senior official allegedly shot his two sons after the private detective he’d hired to spy on his wife filmed her kissing another man.
Thales Alves Naves Machado allegedly fired at both of his children before turning the gun on himself in the early hours of Wednesday (11 Feb).
The horror unfolded at the family’s home in Itumbiara, Brazil.
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The boys’ mother, Sarah Tinoco Araújo, was travelling to São Paulo at the time.
Miguel Araújo Machado, 12, was taken to a local hospital but did not survive, as reported by Need To Know.
His eight-year-old brother remains in the ICU of another local hospital in critical condition, having undergone surgery.
Hours before the shooting, Thales, 40, shared videos of himself and the boys online, captioned: “May God always bless my children, Daddy loves you very much”.
Upon learning of the tragedy, Sarah returned from her trip to visit her youngest son in the hospital, accompanied by her father, Itumbiara mayor Dione Araújo.
Thales, who worked as cabinet secretary for the city government, had been married to Sarah for 15 years.
A key figure in the local council, he had been tipped as a potential candidate in future elections, according to local media.
Hours before the killings, he posted a chilling message accusing his wife of betrayal and asking forgiveness from her father, writing: “I wouldn’t have been able to live with these memories.”
Police are investigating the tragedy but believe Thales acted alone.
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