Police in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia murdered two men suspected of involvement in the murder of nine persons in the hamlet of Mata de Sao Joao, while another suspect was apprehended, according to the state security office on Tuesday.

The burned corpses of nine persons were discovered inside two houses in Mata de Sao Joao on Monday. Three of the fatalities were youngsters, according to authorities, who are still investigating what prompted the slaughter.

The grisly incident is the latest in a spate of drug gang violence that has engulfed the state of Bahia in recent years. Four of Brazil’s five most violent cities are now located in the state, according to the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook. Many are located close to state capital Salvador.

The alleged perpetrators were located by security forces in a forested area of the city, where they were apparently hiding out, the security office said. A firefight broke out when police found them.

A fourth suspect is still at large, with efforts underway to locate him, the statement said. Two pistols, ammunition, radio communicators and drugs were seized from the suspects.