Two-year-old girl dies after being shot in Rio while playing.

Vinícius Lisboa, from Agência Brasil - The Homicide Division of the Civil Police opened an investigation into the death of a 2-year-old girl in Irajá, in the northern zone of Rio de Janeiro, last night (21). The child was in a snack bar when she was hit by a shot that was allegedly fired during a police chase of a suspect in a vehicle theft.

The victim, Sofia Clara Braga, was taken to the hospital, but according to the State Health Department, she arrived at the Getúlio Vargas State Hospital already deceased.

The Civil Police reported that agents are working on the case to try to identify and locate the perpetrator of the shooting that killed the child. A forensic examination has already been conducted at the scene.

According to the Military Police, officers from the 41st Battalion were called to investigate the theft of a vehicle on Avenida Automóvel Clube and a cordon was set up in an attempt to arrest the criminal.

The suspect was located and a chase ensued, ending with the vehicle overturning on Avenida Monsenhor Felix, the same avenue where Sophia was shot.

"Next, the police arrested the driver of the stolen car. A pistol was seized from him. Shortly after, it was discovered that a child had been injured," the police reported.

Three dead in the west zone

That same night, three people died in a shooting in the western part of the city, in the community known as Carobinha.

Military police were called to investigate a report that men had shot at a group of people attending a dance in the community. Upon arrival, the officers exchanged gunfire with the criminals.

The shooting left 11 injured, in addition to a military police officer who was shot in the left leg. The victims were taken to the Rocha Faria state hospital in Campo Grande and the Albert Schweitzer state hospital in Realengo.