5-year-old girl and teenager killed in police operation in Rio

2023-08-12 19:21:02

PMERJ/Disclosure

Police operation on Ilha do Governador

A 5-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were killed this Saturday (12) after a Military Police operation on Ilha do Governador (RJ). The child was identified as Eloá Passos. She was playing inside her house when she was hit in the chest. The teenager, identified as Wendel Eduardo, would have exchanged shots with the PM on Rua Paranapuã, in the Tauá neighborhood, according to the corporation itself.

According to the Municipal Health Secretariat, the two victims were sent to the Evandro Freire Municipal Hospital (HMEF), but they arrived at the scene without life.

Due to the deaths, people started a protest on Rua Paranapuã and closed the access road to Morro do Dendê. A bus was set on fire. Firefighters arrived at the scene and brought the flames under control.

Lidiane Passos, Eloá’s aunt, told the RJTV
that the girl was jumping on the bed at the time of the shooting.

I was at home playing, jumping on the bed. The demonstration was taking place. They fired shots into the community, but it hit a 5-year-old child. It is not the first or second time that the police kill children and adolescents. Until when? There aren’t just criminals in the community,” said Lidiane.

According to the Military Police, there was an exchange of fire with the 17-year-old boy, who was driving a motorcycle. The corporation states that “the command of the 17th BPM was informed about a child shot inside the Dendê community”, but that “there was no police operation inside the community” at that time.

Here’s the full police statement:

The Press Office of the State Secretariat of Military Police informs that a team from the 17th BPM (Ilha do Governador) paid attention to two men on a motorcycle, on Rua Paranapuã, on Ilha do Governador, where the occupant of the ride was carrying a gun. According to the police officers who acted in the action, after an attempted approach, the individual shot at the team, and there was retaliation. The suspect was injured and rescued by the Fire Department at Evandro Freire Municipal Hospital. The man driving the motorcycle was taken to the 37th DP in order to provide clarification.

Later, a group of demonstrators set fire to a bus on Rua Paranapuã and the Battalion of Rounds and Crowd Control (RECOM) was called in to support it, in addition to the Fire Department to contain the flames.

RECOM is currently patrolling the entire region where the incident took place and attempting to obstruct the roads. The Aeromóvel Group also acts in support, monitoring the movement of the roads.

Subsequently, the command of the 17th BPM was informed about a child shot inside the Dendê community and who was rescued by family members. According to information collected by witnesses, the victim would have been hit inside his residence. We emphasize that there was no police operation inside the community.