A police stop resulted in the death of Thawanna da Silva Salmázio in the Cidade Tiradentes neighborhood, East Zone of São Paulo, on April 3.
The case is under investigation by the São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office and involves officers Weden Silva Soares and Yasmin Cursino Ferreira, the latter being the one who fired the fatal shot.
Body camera footage, released by TV Globo on April 5, captured the moment when the officers approached a couple on the street, leading to a confrontation that ended with the shooting of Thawanna.
According to the police report, the officers claimed that the man accompanying the victim had lost his balance and hit the side mirror of the patrol car, justifying the stop.
However, the footage reveals that after a physical contact with the man’s arm, the officers returned and began aggressively questioning the couple. Thawanna responded, stating that the officers had collided with them, escalating the verbal confrontation.
Subsequently, officer Yasmin exited the patrol car and, during the altercation, fired the shot. The victim remained on the ground for about 30 minutes until rescue arrived and was taken to the Cidade Tiradentes General Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The case is being investigated by the Homicide and Personal Protection Department (DHPP) and a Military Police Inquiry (IPM), under the supervision of the relevant oversight bodies.
The Public Security Secretariat reported that all body camera recordings have been incorporated into the investigations for analysis. The two officers involved have been removed from operational duties, and the weapon used in the incident was seized for forensic examination.
Additional details about the case were reported by the G1 portal, which is following developments with the authorities.
The victim’s family awaits the results of the investigations to ensure accountability is properly established.
The ongoing investigations by the DHPP and IPM are also examining whether security protocols were followed by the officers during the incident. The release of the footage by TV Globo has brought new elements to light that may influence the course of the case, including the dynamics of the interaction between the officers and the couple before the shooting.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office is closely monitoring the inquiries to ensure all evidence is impartially analyzed and that the rights of the victim and her family are respected throughout the process.
With information from cartacapital.com.br.
Original published at O Cafezinho.