Young black candy vendor killed by police officer who mistook him for a robber (video)
Yago Macedo, 21, was selling candy with his family in front of the ferry station in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. The police officer was off-duty and in plain clothes.
247 - Candy vendor Yago Macedo, 21, was shot dead in front of the ferry station in downtown Niterói, Rio Metropolitan Region, early afternoon this Monday (14).
According to witnesses, a plainclothes military police officer and the street vendor began arguing after the worker began offering his wares. The officer was reportedly "frightened" by the young man.
"When the police arrived at the scene, my cousin was still alive. So, if they had gotten him out as quickly as possible, they could have saved his life, but unfortunately he's a candy vendor, just another one," lamented the young man's cousin.
In a statement, the Military Police reported that the agent was off duty and responded to an attempted robbery in Praça Arariboia.
Several politicians in the region denounce the racism of the crime on social media.
The incident occurred less than ten days after... assassination of Congolese Moïse KabamgabeA 24-year-old man was lynched in Barra da Tijuca after going to collect his overdue salary. The case caused a stir even outside of Brazil.
Following the murder, yet another instance of police aggression against a Black man: footage from journalist Rodrigo Gomes, of SBT, captured a man being assaulted by a Municipal Guard even after being restrained by the Military Police. He was protesting against Iago's death.
Check out other reactions to the case on Twitter: