The state of Rio de Janeiro recorded the first death of a child by violence in 2020. Anna Carolina de Souza Neves, 8, was hit by a stray bullet to her head on Thursday night (9) while sitting on her couch in Belford Roxo, in the Baixada Fluminense region.

She was taken to the Adão Pereira Nunes State Hospital but died early on Friday (10). The Civil Police said they are still investigating the circumstances of the incident through the Baixada Homicide Police Station.

To Folha, the girl's aunt said the family still does not want to comment and has no details of the wake. On social media, Anna Carolina's sister wrote, "I don't want this pain I'm feeling for anyone. My sister was lying indoors, INSIDE the house, and a single bullet took her life."

Military Police reported that a local battalion team was patrolling Av. Joaquim da Costa Lima, in the Parque Esperança neighborhood, when it was "requested by people to help rescue a child with gunshot wounds."

The corporation said it immediately went to the scene and took the girl to the hospital. There was no operation of that battalion that night.

In 2019, Rio's metropolitan region had at least six children shot and killed (67 in total since 2007). Most lived in a favela community, were black, had a single mother, and were hit during Military Police operations.  Only one of these cases has resulted in an accusation so far: Agatha Felix, 8, which caused a national commotion.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon