The case happened last Friday (18) in Bauru (SP) at the wake of two young people, killed in an alleged confrontation with the Police. PMs are investigated by the Internal Affairs Department

Military police officers were filmed attacking people at a wake in Bauru, in the interior of São Paulo, last Friday, the 18th. The ceremony was being held for the burial of two young people who died on Thursday, the 17th. According to the Security Secretariat Public of São Paulo, they died in a confrontation with the PM, in the community of Jardim Vitória.

The SSP-SP did not explain the reasons for the agents’ presence at the wake and reported the opening of a Military Police Inquiry (IPM) “to investigate the conduct of the police officers involved and adopt all appropriate measures”.

The Military Police Ombudsman’s Office regretted the behavior of the PMs and ordered the opening of a procedure to request the PM’s Internal Affairs Department to carry out a rigorous investigation into the case.

In the images, the agents appear striking batons and pushing family members. The police forcefully remove a young man in a white t-shirt, despite people’s protests. He would be the brother of one of the young people veiled. Before, a woman, also in white, hugs the boy to try to prevent the military from taking action. She is thrown hard and falls to the ground.

Vanessa Mangile, a lawyer who represents the families of the mourning boys, claims that the confusion began because the police were patrolling in front of the funeral ceremony site.

“There was military police patrolling in the vicinity of the wake, as well as the stopping of a vehicle in front of the place, which generated indignation on the part of the families of the young people shot the previous night,” he said.

The presence of the military would have disturbed the boys’ relatives. “An argument began between the agents and family members, at which point the police officers decided to take some people to police duty for contempt, one of these people being the brother of one of the young people who was being watched,” added the defender.

After the attacks, the defense says that it followed the recording of the incident and recorded the abuse by the police officers. “The defense continues to monitor the measures.”

Veiled boys were killed in alleged police confrontation

The wake was held for the burial of young people Guilherme Alves, aged 18, and Luís Silvestre, aged 21. Both died in an alleged confrontation with the Military Police last Thursday, the 17th, in the Jardim Vitória Community.

According to the SSP-SP, in a statement, military police were carrying out an operation in the Jardim Vitória Community “when they were surprised” by the suspects, “who shot at the team”. The PMs would then have retaliated. Guilherme and Luiz were hit and both died at the scene. Along with the suspects, says the agency, drugs and weapons were located, which were seized.

The case was registered by the Bauru Sectional Police Station as a death resulting from police intervention, drug trafficking, association for trafficking, location/seizure of an object and attempted murder. “The investigations continue by the Civil Police in conjunction with the Military Police, through a Military Police Inquiry (IPM)”, says the ministry.

The incident report, which Estadão had access to, states that the three police officers in the operation shot the boys 27 times with a rifle. One of the agents allegedly fired six times with a 7.62 caliber rifle; another also fired six shots with another 7.62 caliber rifle; and a third soldier shot another 15 times, with a 5 56 caliber rifle.

As stated in the police report, the boys had used a .765 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber revolver and were 20 meters away. The police allegedly hit Guilherme three times – in the abdomen, once in the knee and once in the chest – and Luiz, in the head. In the report, the two suspected men allegedly shot the police 12 times.

According to the police version, even after being hit, both continued shooting at the agents, who fired again to neutralize, disarm and call for rescue. The pair ended up dying at the scene.

PM ombudsman calls for ‘rigorous’ investigation into the case

The Military Police Ombudsman’s Office regretted the behavior of the PMs and ordered the opening of a procedure to request the PM’s Internal Affairs Department to carry out a rigorous investigation into the case, the ombudsman Cláudio Silva informed Estadão.

“Our position is for a rigorous investigation of both the deaths resulting from police intervention that occurred on Thursday, in addition to an investigation being carried out into the reasons for the PM’s presence at the wake”, says Silva.

The inspector states that he was informed that the Jardim Vitória community was “taken over by the police in something that looked very much like a persecution”, and states that he intends to go to Bauru to visit the local command and listen to the region’s residents.

“I made personal contact with the General Commander, who informed me that he was ordering a rigorous investigation. That’s when I asked him to order the local PM to collaborate in restoring peace in the community. The Commander said he would give the order”, said Claudio Silva .