Seventh suspect in attack on lieutenant, brother of Eloá, dies in Rota operation
A 45-year-old man was killed in a police operation linked to an attack on Ronickson Pimentel. Six other suspects had already been killed in previous operations.
Seventh suspect in attack on lieutenant, brother of Eloá, dies in Rota operation
A 45-year-old man was killed on Friday night (10) during an operation by Rota (Rondas Ostensivas Tobias de Aguiar) in the capital of São Paulo. The Public Security Secretariat states that he was directly involved in the attack on 1st Lieutenant Ronickson Pimentel dos Santos, who was shot in the head on 27 June in São Caetano do Sul. This is the seventh suspect killed in police operations linked to the case.
According to the SSP, teams from the 1st Shock Battalion acted on the basis of a tip about the individual's whereabouts. When he was found, there was an exchange of gunfire, according to the police force. The man was wounded, taken to a healthcare facility, but did not survive his injuries.
During the same operation, a second individual, aged 33, was arrested and taken to a police station. The authorities are investigating whether he also participated in the attack. Officers seized a weapon at the scene.
The incident was classified as death resulting from police action at the 49th Police District in the São Mateus region. The DHPP will be responsible for the investigation. The SSP stated that it sent requests for forensic examinations to the Criminalistics Institute and the Medical Examiner's Office, and that recordings from cameras attached to officers' uniforms will be examined.
Lieutenant Pimentel, 39, was attacked on the morning of 27 June when he stopped at a traffic light on Avenida Goiás after a training session. A bullet struck his head. He remains hospitalised in critical condition. The victim is the brother of Eloá Pimentel, a 15-year-old executed in 2008 by her former partner Lindemberg Alves — a crime that shocked the country.
Investigations conducted by the Civil Police point to an elaborate plan, with roles distributed among the participants. Documents to which Folha de S.Paulo had access indicate that the criminals used auxiliary vehicles and that there is evidence that the officer's routine was monitored before the attack.
The Judiciary issued arrest warrants for people suspected of direct and indirect participation. The state administration had announced a reward of R$ 50,000 for anyone providing information that led to the capture of the shooter.
Before Friday's operation, six other people had already been killed in Rota interventions in the context of the searches. These incidents occurred in various cities and will also be investigated by the Civil Police, which will examine the details of each confrontation.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo