A military police officer has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting that left one brother dead and another wounded in the coastal city of Praia Grande, São Paulo. The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Gabriel Vernizzi de Araújo, was taken into custody as he arrived for his shift at the Maritime Fire Department unit in Mongaguá.
The violent incident occurred in the early hours of April 13th, when two brothers were found shot inside an abandoned house on Rua São José in the Vila Caiçara neighborhood. Rodrigo Carvalho dos Santos, aged 39, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. His younger brother, 27, was rushed to medical care and survived the attack.
The investigation was led by the General Investigations Department (DIG) of Praia Grande. Authorities were able to identify the suspect through a combination of surveillance camera footage, technical evidence, forensic analysis, and other corroborating information gathered during the probe.
Gabriel Vernizzi de Araújo's arrest marks a significant development in the case, which had been under investigation since the discovery of the victims. The officer's role as a member of the military police adds a layer of complexity to the proceedings, as the force deals with allegations against one of its own.
The surviving brother's testimony and the physical evidence collected from the abandoned property were crucial in building the case against the suspect. The DIG's methodical approach, utilizing modern investigative tools, allowed them to close in on the officer over the weeks following the shooting.
As the legal process moves forward, the community awaits further details regarding the motive behind the attack and the circumstances that led the brothers to be in the abandoned structure. The arrest brings a measure of closure to a case that shocked the local residents of Praia Grande.
Based on reporting from g1.