A town mayor allegedly shot a police officer dead because he’d asked him to dim his car’s headlights.
Geidson Thiago da Silva dos Santos was gunned down at a rodeo show.
After the shooting, suspect João Vitor Xavier fled the scene.
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The gunman fired “around five shots” – according to police chief Diego Maciel – when Geidson turned his back.
The 39-year-old officer was given first aid at the scene and then taken to a nearby hospital.
He was later transferred to a better-equipped facility due to the severity of his injuries but died while receiving treatment.
It happened in Trizidela do Vale, north-eastern Brazil on Sunday (6 Jul) night.
João Vitor, who is the mayor of nearby Igarapé Grande, turned himself in to the police on Monday (7 Jul), accompanied by lawyers.
He claimed he had fired in self-defence and had later “disposed of” the firearm.
He claimed a voter had given him the .38 calibre revolver as a “gift” about two years ago.
He admitted that it was unregistered and that he had no license to carry it.
Due to a quirk of the local law, he could not be remanded into custody there and then, so he was released after giving his statement.
The dispute between the two men reportedly began when Geidson, who was off duty, asked the mayor to dim his car’s headlights.
He reportedly made the request because the bright light was bothering people at the event.
João Vitor, 27, was elected on a left-wing ticket in 2024, with his then occupation listed as “student, scholarship holder, or intern”.
He is the nephew of a former mayor of Igarapé Grande, whose population was 10,231 in the 2022 census.
His father is the mayor of a nearby town, as reported by Need To Know.
His lawyers have said: “The facts related to the alleged incident…are still under preliminary investigation.
“It is therefore premature to make any judgments at this stage, especially since the circumstances appear to require further detailed examination.”
João Vitor has requested a leave of absence from the city council to focus on his defence and to undergo “psychiatric treatment”.
Geidson was laid to rest yesterday (8 Jul).
A Maranhão Military Police spokesperson said: “He provided outstanding service to the force with dedication, professionalism, and a strong commitment to public safety.”
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