Gunfights in Rio Slums Occupied by UPPs Leave One Dead and Three Injured

05/18/2015 - 09h33

The crisis faced by the Pacifying Police Units (UPPs) occupying slums in Rio de Janeiro has drawn attention again this week in numbers: one person was killed in Complexo da Mangueira, in the central region of Rio, another was shot in Complexo da Maré, in the north of the city, and two others were injured in the Rocinha slum, in the city's south zone.

Business owner Alexandre Cavalcante de Oliveira, 35, was at the door of his house at about 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, when he was hit by a gunshot in the head. He lived in Morro do Telégrafo, one of the communities that comprise the slums of Mangueira, where one of the UPP bases is installed in the region.

Folha verified that he was leaving home to work when his two children, aged 3 and 5, caught up with him at the entrance of the house. They wanted him to take them for a walk.

Oliveira convinced his children to stay at home. He said he would be back soon. He was only going to buy cookies. But he was hit when he was still in his yard.

"He had just spoken to his children," said Alexandra Cavalcante de Oliveira, 41, the victim's older sister." "He has four children. His wife is eight-months pregnant and went to the hospital with dilation. The baby is going to be born amid this awful tragedy."

In the gallery of slums of Maré, a gunfight took place on Sunday morning, May 17. Military troops of the Army's Pacifying Force clashed with armed men in Areal slum. Nobody was arrested, but a resident was hit in the leg by a shot.

Sunday, May 19, also had victims in the third gunfight, in Rocinha slum, in the south zone of Rio, near Barra da Tijuca, in the west zone. The police say two people were shot.

There also were gunfights in Complexo do Alemão, but there are no records of injuries.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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