University of São Paulo researcher killed in Rio de Janeiro shooting

Daniel Oliveira de Andrade, a 28-year-old researcher from the University of São Paulo (USP), died after being shot while traveling in a vehicle on the Presidente Dutra Highway in Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, October 31, near Austin.

According to family members, Andrade was sleeping in the passenger seat when four shots were fired at the car by occupants of another vehicle. The family suggests the attackers may have been attempting to hijack a truck traveling ahead of the group and mistook the car for an armed escort. They noted that the driver accelerated to escape, prompting the suspects to pull alongside and open fire.

While some reports suggest the shooting may have stemmed from a traffic dispute, the family contests this version. The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro stated they have identified an individual and requested a temporary arrest warrant, though the suspect has not yet appeared for questioning. The Homicide Police Station of Baixada Fluminense (DHBF) is leading the investigation, and the Military Police have also opened a procedure to analyze the circumstances.