[1] He studied in Maceió until he moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1930, where he worked as a journalist at A Vanguarda, a newspaper closed down by the Brazilian Revolution of 1930.

[1] He returned to political life through the Christian Democratic Party and was elected senator in 1962, joining the National Renewal Alliance after the military regime of 1964 declared a two-party system.

The hostility between the two politicians dated back to 1950, when Arnon defeated Silvestre's candidate, then governor, in the succession for the government of Alagoas.

While making a speech at the rostrum of the upper chamber, Arnon noticed Silvestre's movement, indicating that he would draw his gun.

Mrs. Creusa Kairala, the victim's widow, sued Arnon de Mello, demanding that he pay for the education of the couple's four children.