Rafaela, João Pedro's mother, wants justice: "Nights I can't sleep"
Amidst the grief, Rafaela Coutinho Matos, João Pedro's mother, states that "now, we are in this fight for justice," referring to the murder of her son, who was shot by the Rio de Janeiro Military Police.
247 - Amidst the grief, Rafaela Coutinho Matos, João Pedro's mother, recounts how her family—herself, her husband Neilton da Costa Pinto, and their 4-year-old daughter, Rebeca—has been coping with João's absence. information from the Universa portal.
On the 18th, it will be one month since the young man was killed during an operation by the Civil Police and the Federal Police in São Gonçalo (RJ).
According to the Homicide Division of Niterói, São Gonçalo and Itaboraí, which is investigating the crime, the projectile entered João Pedro's body through the posterior thoracic region—in his back, at the level of his right armpit—and remained lodged in the boy's body. Civil police officers claim he was shot during a shootout between them and drug traffickers; the family says the property where João Pedro was located was raided by police officers.
"Now, we're in this fight for justice. Focusing a little on that, trying to stay calm. Because now the testimonies [in the case] are beginning," he says. "And not that the fight will bring him back, but we'll have some relief. Just a little." little relief."