The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) requested the preventive arrest of the three Federal Highway Police (PRF) agents involved in the death of the 3-year-old girl Heloísa dos Santos Silva. She died this Saturday morning (16), after a cardiorespiratory arrest.
Heloísa was shot on September 7th. She was driving with her parents through Arco Metropolitano, in Seropédica, 60km from the capital, when she was hit. According to the family, the shot that hit Heloísa came from a PRF vehicle that was following the car. Family members reinforce that the agents fired the shots without carrying out an approach.
Remember the case: 3-year-old girl is shot in a PRF action in Rio de Janeiro; police officers are dismissed
The MPF’s request was sent to the Court on Friday night (15). In addition to preventive detention, a new examination was also requested on the weapons that were with the police officers at the time the case was registered. It is suspected that more shots were fired. The MPF also requested a new examination of the car where Heloísa’s family was traveling.
:: PM operation in Maricá (RJ) kills 10-year-old boy who was going to school ::
The case is being investigated by the Federal Police. The PRF removed the agents involved in the case. Agent Fábio Menacho Ferreira admitted to having fired the shots.
He claimed that, at the time, he identified that the car containing Heloísa’s family was registered as stolen and, therefore, the agents began a pursuit. He stated that he fired the shots because he heard a noise similar to a gunshot.
:: A 5-year-old child and a 17-year-old are killed on Ilha do Governador (RJ) during police actions ::
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke about Heloísa’s death and lamented that a child’s life had been taken by “those who should take care of the population’s safety”.
Little Heloisa dos Santos Silva, aged 3, died today, after being shot by someone who was supposed to take care of the population’s safety. Something that cannot happen. The pain of losing a daughter is so great that there is no name for this loss. There is nothing to console. My feelings and…
— Lula (@LulaOficial) September 16, 2023
The Minister of the Federal Supreme Court, Gilmar Mendes, defended in a post on social media that the PRF needs to have its “existence rethought”
Yesterday, Genivaldo was asphyxiated in a vehicle turned into a gas chamber. Now, the tragedy of the day falls on the girl Heloisa Silva. In addition to holding the agents involved criminally responsible, there is much more to be done. A police body that carries out barbaric episodes like these… pic.twitter.com/wlv5tg6sri
— Gilmar Mendes (@gilmarmendes) September 16, 2023
The Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, published the PRF’s note of condolence and repeated that the Federal Police is committed to the investigations. In the note of condolence, the Highway Police offered solidarity to the family.
“We sympathize with the family, in this moment of pain, and express our most sincere condolences for their loss,” he said.
Below, the Federal Highway Police’s statement about today’s tragedy.
Regarding the determination of administrative responsibility, I reiterate that the administrative process was initiated on the same day as the incident. My decision can only be issued at the end of the process, as… pic.twitter.com/Z29Dc6VeUW
— Flávio Dino 🇧🇷 (@FlavioDino) September 16, 2023
Editing: Thalita Pires
