Three shootings in Rio de Janeiro’s West and Southwest zones left at least three people dead, including a teenager, on Tuesday night (09/09). The police are investigating whether the incidents are connected and what may have motivated the violence. The attacks took place at Barra de Guaratiba Beach, Recreio dos Bandeirantes Beach, and within the Terreirão community. The sequence began around 22:00 with an armed attack at Barra de Guaratiba, followed later by a deadly assault on teenagers playing soccer near Posto 12 in Recreio, and concluded with the execution of a man in Terreirão.
This Content Is Only For Subscribers
To unlock this content, subscribe to INTERLIRA Reports.
Barra de Guaratiba Beach
Around 22:00, two armed men on a motorcycle opened fire on three young men at Barra de Guaratiba Beach in Rio’s West Zone. Eduardo da Silva Alves, 19, was killed instantly, while Carlos Januário, 18, and Braian Souza, 23, were injured with varying degrees of severity. Both were transported to Rocha Faria State Hospital for medical care. Police noted that none of the victims had criminal records, raising further questions about the motive. Authorities are now examining whether this attack has direct ties to the other shootings carried out that same night.
Recreio Beach
Later in the evening, at around 23:30, another shooting unfolded on the boardwalk of Recreio Beach, where about ten people were playing soccer. According to witnesses interviewed by officers from the 31st Military Police Battalion, two motorcycles carrying gunmen approached the group and fired multiple rounds. A 16-year-old boy was killed on the spot, and another youth, aged 15, was seriously injured and taken to Lourenço Jorge Municipal Hospital in Barra da Tijuca, where he remains in stable condition. Investigators suspect the shooters are linked to the Third Pure Command (TCP) faction. Videos circulated online capturing the sound of heavy gunfire, fueling local fear.
Execution in Terreirão
Shortly after the Recreio shooting, reports were received of another fatal attack, this time in the Terreirão community. Police units from the Presentes program responded to DW Street, where they discovered the body of Cauã Vinicius Gomes Silva, 22, who had been executed. Cauã had prior criminal records for theft and homicide. Investigators revealed that his brother, formerly part of the TCP, had recently defected to the rival Red Command (CV) and is believed to be hiding in the Penha Complex. Authorities are now examining whether this family connection was a factor in Cauã’s murder, as well as the potential links between the three violent episodes.
Analysis:
The sequence of shootings in Rio de Janeiro’s West and Southwest zones reveals how urban violence in the city often unfolds in patterns of retaliation and territorial disputes, even when the exact motives remain unclear. The simultaneity of attacks in Barra de Guaratiba, Recreio, and Terreirão suggests more than isolated episodes, pointing instead to a dynamic where criminal factions test dominance, settle personal disputes, or send intimidation signals.
What stands out is the diversity of victims: young men without criminal records, teenagers playing soccer, and an individual with ties to organized crime. This mix illustrates the complexity of Rio’s security crisis, where both targeted executions and indiscriminate shootings expose residents to constant risk. The suspected involvement of the Third Pure Command and the possibility of factional rivalry linked to the Red Command reinforces that local conflicts often intersect with broader disputes over control and loyalty.
Sources: O Globo; O Dia; G1; CNN Brasil.
