São Paulo Metro assault investigated as homophobia

Security cameras captured the moment English teacher Ricardo Akira was assaulted by a passenger on the Line 5-Lilac platform of the São Paulo Metro. The attack, which occurred on July 11, involved the assailant pushing the victim out of a carriage and striking him with punches, kicks to the back, and throwing him against a wall.

The aggressor has been identified as 41-year-old Rafael Pereira Gonçalvez Lima. The incident is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Station (Delpom) as both bodily injury and homophobia. According to the victim, the attacker shouted homophobic slurs and accused him of filming inside the carriage. The assault resulted in facial cuts, bruises, and a perforated eardrum.

While the initial police report was filed as reciprocal bodily injury, the victim stated he had to insist that the hate crime aspect be included in the investigation. The Public Security Secretariat (SSP) confirmed that the footage has been attached to the inquiry and the suspect has been summoned to testify.