Armed violence in Rio de Janeiro claimed another tragic victim: Navy captain and doctor Gisele Mendes de Souza e Mello. She was shot in the head during an event at the auditorium of the Navy’s Health School, located in the Marcílio Dias Hospital in Lins de Vasconcelos, North Zone of the city, amidst a police operation in the Gambá community. This case highlights the severe public security situation in the Greater Rio Metropolitan Region, which recorded 1,973 shootings and 1,150 people shot between January and September 2024, including security officers, children, and victims of stray bullets.
Police Operation in the Area
In a statement, the Military Police reported that an operation by the Lins de Vasconcelos Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) was underway when Gisele was hit. There were reports of confrontations shared on social media. The police claimed officers were attacked by criminals in the Gambá community. The operation aimed at arresting individuals involved in vehicle thefts in the Méier area.
Year-to-date Overview
Between January and September 2024, the Greater Rio Metropolitan Region recorded 1,973 shootings, according to the Fogo Cruzado Institute. Of these, 711 occurred during police operations. A total of 1,150 people were shot, including 573 fatalities and 577 injuries. Compared to the same period in 2023—which saw 2,367 shootings, 835 during police operations, and 1,489 people shot (776 killed and 713 injured)—2024 has shown a 17% decrease in shootings.
Regions
According to the Fogo Cruzado Institute, among the six regions that make up Greater Rio, the North Zone accounted for 39% of shootings, 30.5% of deaths, and 31% of injuries reported in the first half of 2024, making it the most affected area. During this period, the North Zone recorded 522 shootings, 113 deaths, and 112 injuries. The West Zone followed with 382 shootings, 87 deaths, and 94 injuries. The Baixada Fluminense had 269 shootings, 97 deaths, and 84 injuries, while the Metropolitan East recorded 115 shootings, 62 deaths, and 64 injuries. The city center saw 45 shootings, 7 deaths, and 6 injuries, and the South Zone, the least affected, reported 13 shootings, 4 deaths, and 2 injuries.
Cities
In the first half of 2024, the city of Rio de Janeiro accounted for 71% of shootings, 57% of deaths, and 59% of injuries in the metropolitan region, underscoring its position as the epicenter of armed violence, according to the Fogo Cruzado Institute. The city recorded 962 shootings, 211 deaths, and 214 injuries. Among other affected cities, São João de Meriti registered 74 shootings, 14 deaths, and 16 injuries, while São Gonçalo had 60 shootings, 19 deaths, and 43 injuries. Duque de Caxias reported 46 shootings, 13 deaths, and 17 injuries, and Nova Iguaçu recorded 38 shootings, 29 deaths, and 4 injuries.
Neighborhoods
In the first half of 2024, certain neighborhoods in the Greater Rio Metropolitan Region stood out for their high levels of armed violence. Gardênia Azul topped the list with 45 shootings, 13 deaths, and 5 injuries, followed by Itanhangá with 43 shootings, 5 deaths, and 6 injuries. Maré also reported high numbers, with 39 shootings, 14 deaths, and 11 injuries. Brás de Pina recorded 37 shootings, 2 deaths, and 4 injuries, while Vila Isabel reported 36 shootings, 7 deaths, and 2 injuries.
At Home
At least 18 people were shot inside their homes in the first half of the year, with 12 fatalities and six injuries. This represents a 50% decrease compared to the first six months of 2023, when 36 people were shot at home, with 26 fatalities and 10 injuries.
Stray Bullets
Stray bullets impacted 58 people: 16 were killed, and 42 were injured. Of these victims, 30 were hit during police operations, resulting in 10 deaths and 20 injuries. In the first half of 2023, 92 people were victims of stray bullets, with 29 fatalities and 63 injuries. Of these, 50 were hit during police operations, causing 18 deaths and 32 injuries.
Security Officers
Forty-five security officers were shot in the Greater Rio Metropolitan Region during the first half of 2024. Among these, 18 officers died—four while on duty, 12 while off duty, one retired, and one with an unspecified duty status—and 27 were injured—15 on duty and 12 off duty. Military police officers were the most affected category, accounting for 80% of the officers shot. Of the 45 officers, 36 were from this category, with 15 fatalities and 21 injuries.
Children
The state of Rio de Janeiro reported 23 children shot in 2024, averaging nearly two per month. As of Friday, 6 December, data from the Fogo Cruzado Institute indicated that 4 children were killed, and 19 were injured. Additionally, 34 adolescents were shot, with 16 fatalities and 18 injuries. The most recent case involved the death of 12-year-old Kamila Vitória Aparecida de Souza Silva, who was shot during a shootout in the Guarda Favela, in Del Castilho, North Zone of Rio, on 5 December. Kamila was playing dodgeball with friends in a square when the shooting began.
Analysis:
The tragic incident involving Captain and Navy doctor Gisele Mendes de Souza e Mello, shot during a police operation in Lins de Vasconcelos, highlights the challenges of balancing public security actions with the protection of civilians in conflict-ridden areas of Rio de Janeiro. This case underscores the risks of operations in densely populated areas, where the proximity of communities and institutional spaces exacerbates the consequences of shootings, resulting in innocent victims. The use of lethal force in urban settings requires greater caution and strategic planning to minimize collateral damage.
Data from the Instituto Fogo Cruzado indicates that, although there is a reduction in armed violence compared to the previous year, the absolute number of shootings and casualties remains alarming. The North and West Zones continue to lead in violence, driven by intense territorial disputes between criminal factions like Red Command (CV) and Third Pure Command (TCP), as well as militias vying for control over key areas for drug trafficking and illicit activities. Favelas such as Jacarezinho, Complexo do Alemão, and Complexo da Penha in the North, and Gardênia Azul, Cidade de Deus, and Vila Kennedy in the West, are hotspots for these violent confrontations.
Finally, it is crucial to assess the effectiveness of police operations and their link to armed violence. With 711 shootings recorded during operations in the first half of 2024, it is clear that there is room for improvement in intervention strategies. Actions based solely on repression have limited long-term impact on reducing crime, suggesting a need for more comprehensive approaches that focus on prevention, community engagement, and targeted law enforcement.
Source: G1 [1] [2] [3]; O Globo; Instituto Fogo Cruzado [1] [2] [3] [4].
