MPF will investigate PRF action that left 3-year-old girl shot in Rio

Investigation

MPF wants removal of agents involved in action in which 3-year-old girl was shot and killed

The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) opened a criminal investigation to investigate the action of the Federal Highway Police (PRF) that left a 3-year-old girl seriously injured, after being hit, in Arco Metropolitano, in Seropédica, Baixada Fluminense. The case occurred last Thursday night (07).

According to relatives of the girl Heloísa dos Santos Silva, agents from the Federal Highway Police opened fire on the family’s vehicle, hitting the child in the head and spine. In addition to Heloísa, the father, mother, 8-year-old sister and an aunt were in the car. The girl is hospitalized in serious condition.

On Friday (08), the MPF initiated the investigative procedure requesting the PRF Superintendence to identify the perpetrator or perpetrators of the shooting, the removal of all those involved in the operation for 30 days and the immediate collection of the weapons used in the action to carrying out expertise. The body also requests access to the internal investigative procedure opened at the PRF Internal Affairs Office.

On Saturday (09), representatives from the MPF were at the Adão Pereira Nunes Hospital, in Duque de Caxias (RJ), where the 3-year-old girl is hospitalized. According to the public prosecutor responsible for opening the investigation, Eduardo Santos de Oliveira Benones, the objective was to verify the victim’s health status and obtain the identity of the medical team that provided the initial care and continues to monitor the treatment.

The MPF will also investigate information it received while at the hospital: a plainclothes PRF agent had entered the intensive care center where the child is, without authorization from the health center’s security. The prosecutor responsible for the investigation also requested information about possible assistance provided by the PRF to the family in caring for the girl.

With the procedure, the MPF seeks to investigate an alleged crime of bodily injury or attempted murder qualified by the victim’s age, without prejudice to other criminal conduct verified during the investigation.

According to reports from the father of the shot child, the vehicle with the family passed close to the PRF station without being approached and was then followed closely by a police car. The man says that, when he slowed down and gave a turn signal, indicating that he was going to stop, shots were fired by the agents towards the vehicle, hitting the girl.

The PRF says it carried out the approach on suspicion that the vehicle driven by the family was stolen.

*With information from Agência Brasil

Read more:

PGR expands charges against 31 investigated by January 8th

Former president Bolsonaro is hospitalized to undergo surgery

Army dismisses Mauro Cid, who is left without a role, but with a salary of R$27,000