Rio de Janeiro police officer dies after being shot in confrontation

Charles Batista dos Santos, a 45-year-old military police officer, has died after nearly three months of hospitalization. He was shot in the face on July 29 during a police operation on Avenida Brasil, in the Guadalupe neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro's North Zone.

The incident occurred when officers from the Express Ways Policing Battalion (BPVE) attempted to stop two suspicious vehicles. The occupants refused to comply, opened fire on the police, and fled, leading to a high-speed chase and an intense exchange of gunfire. During the confrontation, Corporal Fernando Placido Roberto Rocha also died from his injuries.

The operation, which included support from the Shock Police Battalion (BPChq), resulted in the seizure of six rifles, three pistols, a grenade, and ballistic vests. Four suspects were arrested, while two others died during the encounter. Dos Santos, who joined the force in 2021, is survived by two children. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday in Barra Mansa.