Civil defense secretary for Belford Roxo city, outside Rio, shot dead

Municipal Civil Defense and Urban Order Secretary for Belford Roxo city Marcos Wander Silva de Oliveira, aged 42, was killed on Thursday night in the municipality located in the region known as Baixada Flumense, part of Rio de Janeiro’s metropolitan area. De Oliveira was also a retired military police officer.

De Oliveira was in his car, in the district of Heliópolis, Belford Roxo, when he was approached by armed criminals. Investigators believe he may be killed after the attackers recognized him to be a retired military agent.

The police were summoned and managed to take the victim to a hospital in nearby Nova Iguaçu city, but he was dead by the time he arrived. The crime is being investigated by a local homicide division.

De Oliveira had been serving as secretary since December last year. This is the second time someone occupying a political post in the state government is murdered since the federal intervention in Rio de Janeiro state was launched, less than two months ago. On March 14, Rio de Janeiro city councilor Marielle Franco, of the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL), was also gunned down in her car, with several shots to her head.

According to official figures, de Oliveira is the 33rd police agent murdered in the state this year.

Also in Belford Roxo, Tânia da Silva, teacher and director at the Jorge Ayres de Lima Municipal School was killed as she was leaving the school after Easter celebrations. She is believed to have been the victim of a collective robbery in the Três Setas neighborhood, before being shot in the head. She had worked as a public school teacher since 95.

City authorities expressed their grief over “so much violence. May God comfort family members. We’re scared. The city is calling for help,” the note reads.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira