Man shot in Morro do Pavão-Pavãozinho
A man died and another was injured in Morro do Pavão-Pavãozinho, in Copacabana, in the southern part of the city; according to residents, the victim was killed during a shootout; according to the General Command of the UPPs (Pacifying Police Units), the shooter had three prior arrests, one for robbery and two for drug trafficking.
From Agência Brasil
Rio de Janeiro - A man died and another was injured in the early hours of today (23) in Morro do Pavão-Pavãozinho, in Copacabana, south of the city. According to residents, the victim was killed during a shootout. The community resident was identified as Tomaz Rodrigues, 33 years old. According to the General Command of the Pacifying Police Units (UPPs), he had three police records, one for robbery and two for drug trafficking.
The wounded man managed to escape. The command also reported that the UPP police clashed with drug traffickers in the community. The commander of the 19th Military Police Battalion, André Luiz Belloni, said that at least 20 men reinforced policing in the region this morning to ensure that businesses could operate. He said that in the early hours of the morning, the battalion's police officers received information that a shootout was taking place in the community. When they arrived at the scene, they found residents protesting on the way up the hill.
Even with the police presence, many shopkeepers did not open their doors for fear of further drug trafficking activity. "The police are here now, but we don't know what might happen tomorrow. We shopkeepers in Pavão-Pavãozinho are afraid," said Veton Monteiro, a shopkeeper who has worked in the community for 25 years, in a building materials store.
Edited by: Marcos Chagas