Rio councilwoman's murder puts army takeover in spotlight [View all]
Source: Associated Press
Peter Prengaman and Mauricio Savarese, Associated Press
Updated 1:42 pm, Thursday, March 15, 2018
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A popular Rio de Janeiro councilwoman was shot in the head four times by assassins, police said Thursday, a brazen murder that shocked Brazil and raised questions about the effectiveness of a military intervention in the city.
A police official told The Associated Press that 38-year-old Marielle Franco was killed Wednesday night by perpetrators who appeared to know exactly where she would be sitting in a car with tinted windows. The official revealed details on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
In the attack in the Rio neighborhood of Estacio de Sa, driver Anderson Pedro Gomes was killed and Franco's press officer, Fernanda Chaves, was injured. It happened after Franco participated in an event focused on empowering young black women.
Elected in 2016, Franco was a member of the left-leaning Socialism and Liberty Party known for her social work in poor and marginalized communities, or favelas, and outspokenness against police violence, which disproportionately impacts black residents.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Rio-councilwoman-s-murder-puts-army-takeover-in-12756278.php
Rest in Peace, Marielle Franco.
= new reply since forum marked as read
