Delegate Ederson Martins talks about the motivation for the attack in São João Batista. Investigations by the Civil Police of Maranhão indicate that the attack that killed a pregnant woman and her 4-year-old son in the rural area of ??São João Batista, was motivated by the change of criminal faction on the part of the victim's partner and father of the child, Josef Abreu Santos. ? Click here and subscribe to the g1 Maranhão channel on WhatsApp According to delegate Ederson Martins, Operations coordinator of the State Secretariat for Public Security (SSP-MA), there are indications that Josef left the faction he was part of and joined another criminal group, or left the organization without authorization. The change would have motivated the attack that resulted in the death of Samira Costa Correia and Yan Kaleb Costa Santos, aged 4. According to the police, Josef Abreu Santos was the criminals' main target. He was interviewed by the Civil Police. "The victim's husband was part of the faction that carried out the attack and had allegedly changed sides or left the organization without the members' authorization. They went to the location to demand and avenge his departure and that of another person who lived in the village. As they could not find him at the residence, they attacked the family members who were there at the time," said the delegate. READ ALSO: Police have already identified suspects in attack that killed pregnant woman and child in MA, says chief Suspect involved in attack that killed pregnant woman and child dies in confrontation with police in MA INVESTIGATION: SSP names partner as main target of attack that killed pregnant woman and child Suspected involvement is arrested The Civil Police of Maranhão have already identified the suspects involved in the attack. Two of them died in clashes with police teams during the searches. On Sunday (12), Joelson Braga Araújo died during a police raid. According to the State Secretariat for Public Security (SSP-MA), he wore an electronic ankle bracelet as per court order. The second suspect killed was David João Gaspar Penha, known as "Mucurão". According to the SSP-MA, he also died in a confrontation with police officers in the rural area of ??São João Batista. David had already been arrested previously and had police records. Joelson Braga Araujo (left) and David João Gaspar Penha (right) are suspected of participating in an attack that killed a pregnant woman and her child Reproduction/Montage g1 Still on Sunday, a third suspect, Mateus Costa Pinheiro, was taken to the police station in São João Batista. However, according to delegate Ederson Martins, he was released by court order, as there were not enough elements to draw up a report of arrest in the act. "We have to follow the legal system and, unfortunately, this goes beyond our will. If there are no elements to make the arrest in the act, they have to be released. That's what happened in this case, because, at that time, there were no supporting elements for the arrest in the act", said the delegate. Others involved have already been identified and continue to be sought by security forces. The names were not disclosed to avoid compromising the investigations. The searches include teams from the Civil Police, Military Police, Official Forensics, Air Tactical Center (CTA), Kennel and intelligence sectors. Investigation The case is being investigated as a double homicide. According to the SSP-MA, the elements gathered so far indicate that the crime is related to a dispute between criminal factions. According to the SSP, Josef Abreu Santos, companion of Samira Costa Correia and father of Yan Kaleb Costa Santos, aged 4, is identified by the investigation as the main target of the attack. He was interviewed by the police authority. The secretariat did not say in what condition Josef gave his statement or disclose other details, so as not to compromise the progress of the investigations. Family members said he had been seen in the house shortly before the attack. Attack would have involved around 15 men The victims were identified as Samira Costa Correia and Yan Kaleb Costa Santos Reproduction/Social Networks The victims were found charred inside a burned-out house on Friday (10). According to police, armed men invaded the property, fired several shots and set fire to the place. Witnesses reported that approximately 15 men participated in the attack. The Military Police found around 100 cases of ammunition already fired at the scene. There were materials of 9 mm, .38, .40 and 12 calibers. Forensic investigation finds out how the victims died The forensic examinations should clarify the dynamics of the attack and determine whether Samira and Yan died as a result of the shots or the fire. Due to the conditions in which the bodies were found, the release by the Forensic Medical Institute (IML) was conditioned on the performance of a DNA test with material collected from a first-degree relative. According to SSP-MA, the exam has already been carried out. The secretariat did not say when the bodies will be released. Investigations and searches for the others involved continue in the region. The SSP-MA stated that other information will not be released at this time to preserve the progress of the search.