71-Year-Old Man Dies Trying to Save His Son in Vespasiano Shooting
The tragedy occurred on Tuesday night, October 6, in the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Area
On Tuesday night, October 6, three hooded men broke into the home of 71-year-old José da Silva in Vespasiano. While police were still responding, the father attempted to intervene and was shot, later dying at Risoleta Neves Hospital. His 36-year-old son was also shot, but managed to escape through the roof of the house and remains hospitalized in critical condition.
How the attack happened
According to the Military Police, a silver Chevrolet Onix pulled up near GG Street in the Morro Alto neighborhood. The suspects exited the vehicle, climbed the access stairway, and entered the property. They opened fire on the 36-year-old man, who was hit but managed to escape through the roof. Meanwhile, a 14-year-old girl who was also in the residence hid in a wardrobe and was unharmed.
What was found at the scene
During the search, officers recovered two balaclavas, a .38-caliber revolver, and spent shell casings of the same caliber. Security cameras near the site and inside the house were also seized, along with memory cards, after relatives refused to hand over the footage. The images and equipment were secured to assist in the investigation.
Disputes that may have motivated the shooting
Relatives of the victims stated that the 36-year-old man had disputes with two people living in Vespasiano's Nova Pampulha neighborhood. The possible link between these conflicts and the attack is still under investigation by the Military Police. No suspects were arrested at the scene, and the attackers fled in a vehicle that has not yet been located.
Authorities' response
The case was referred to the 3rd Duty Police Station of Vespasiano. The PMMG noted that the residence has security cameras and that the equipment was seized to preserve the footage and aid the investigation. The Specialized Patrol Group for High-Risk Areas (Gepar) rendered aid to the victims and transported them to the Risoleta Tolentino Neves Hospital.
With information from G1, Estado de Minas, CNN Brasil.
Source: G1, Estado de Minas, CNN Brasil