Londrina: Man dies after 12-hour hostage standoff with elderly couple

A 44-year-old man died following a police intervention after holding an elderly couple hostage for over 12 hours in a residential building in Londrina, Paraná. The incident began on Tuesday morning when the man, reportedly experiencing a psychological crisis, attacked his brother-in-law with a knife after his family suggested psychiatric treatment.

The suspect then invaded multiple apartments, at one point pushing an elderly woman and stealing a cell phone, before taking a couple, aged 62 and 73, hostage in an eighth-floor apartment. During the standoff, the man reportedly took a selfie with the hostages and requested prayers from a local priest.

After negotiations failed, the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE) intervened in the early hours of Wednesday. Officers used a taser to subdue the suspect, which resulted in cardiac arrest. Despite 45 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts by firefighters, the man was pronounced dead. The elderly hostages were rescued without injuries.