App Driver Killed by Off-duty State Police Officer at Niterói Gas Station

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL –  An app driver was shot and killed in Niterói, in the Metropolitan Region of Rio, during an argument at a gas station on Tuesday night, November 17th.

The shooter is Giovani Peçanha de Athaíde, a State Police (PM) officer who was off duty. He was interviewed by the Civil and State Police and then released.

Diego Soares Sampaio was shot twice in the abdomen. He was assisted, but did not survive.

According to the victim’s wife, nursing assistant Hellen Cristina Nascimento, the argument began between the officer and a gas station attendant. Then, she and her husband who were in line to refuel, complained of the delay.

CCTV footage shows the moment the couple got out of the car. Diego then heads towards Giovani, who shoots him. Diego falls to the ground.

According to the police, Giovani said that Diego got out of the car with the intention of attacking him and that he shot him to control the situation.

Two arguments

Witnesses reported that the officer was refueling at the station, located in Pendotiba, in the Oceanic region of Niterói, when an argument with the gas station attendant began.

The couple that was just behind in line, waiting to refuel, complained about the delay and then a new argument broke out. According to witnesses, before shooting Diego, the police officer insulted the app driver’s wife.

The victim

Diego Soares Sampaio was an app driver. He was rushed to Alberto Torres State Hospital in São Gonçalo, but did not survive. The driver’s wife said he had no chance to defend himself.

“I was already leaving and told him [the police officer] that all he had to do was to drive the car forward: ‘You’re holding up everyone’. Then he started to talk dirty. I said there’s no need for you to be cursing. He got out of the car, but I didn’t see that he was armed,” Hellen said.

“When my husband got out and approached him, he shot him. When he shot him, my husband fell to the ground. I ran forward, and he shot again. He had no chance to defend himself because he shot him right away,” added the woman.

The driver leaves an 8-year-old daughter.

What the police say

The case is under investigation by the Niterói, São Gonçalo and Itaboraí Homicide Police Stations. The police reported that the witnesses will be interviewed.

Questioned, the PM said that after being called, a team headed to the station and heard the police officer responsible for the shots. Giovani was also heard by the Civil Police.

According to the force, the officer said that the app driver got out of his car with the intention of attacking him and that he would not have respected the order to stop. The officer also said that he shot him in order to contain the situation.

The PM also reported that an internal proceeding has been initiated to investigate the circumstances of the case.

Source: G1

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