Brazil police soldier arrested for killing of merchant Léo Lanches in Salvador

Police soldier Valdilene Nonato Santos França was taken into temporary custody on Tuesday in Salvador, Bahia, after being identified by body‑camera footage and forensic analysis as the suspect who fired the shot that killed 33‑year‑old merchant Leonardo Gil Lima, known as Léo Lanches, on 23 July. The incident occurred during a patrol by the 49th Independent Company in the São Cristóvão neighbourhood, where witnesses say there was no exchange of fire.

Bahia Governor Jerônimo Rodrigues expressed condolences to the victim’s family and said he instructed Public Security Secretary Marcelo Werner to pursue the investigation with rigor while ensuring the soldier’s right to a full defense. The soldier was presented to the Department of Homicides and Protection of Persons and will appear before a custody hearing. The killing has sparked protests demanding justice and scrutiny of police operations in the city.