By Mark Shannon, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – American musician based in Rio, Emmanuel Gilligan, has been shot and seriously injured in a bungled armed robbery in the district of Recreio dos Bandeirantes in Rio’s Zona Oeste (West Zone). Gilligan is singer and lead guitarist for local band ArizonA, who have played regularly everywhere from Shenanigan’s bar to the annual America’s Day, put on by the American Society of Rio.
The attack, which happened on March 5th is alleged to have happened after gunmen were tipped off that Mr. Gilligan, known as Eman, had withdrawn R$5,000 from a local bank.
Mr. Gilligan was initially followed and approached by armed robbers after he had pulled up outside a friend’s house but managed to escape, only for the assailants to catch up with him.
He was then shot through the lower part of his shoulder, across his back, puncturing a lung, and left for dead. The gunmen fled the scene, a busy street at around 1PM, without the money.
Speaking to The Rio Times, Mr. Gilligan’s wife, Julia Scott, said her husband is now recovering in a Rio hospital in a stable condition; however, a spinal cord injury sustained in the attack appears to have paralyzed him from the chest down.
Ms. Scott believes the attack, which she described as “unusual,” is directly linked to the withdrawal of the large sum of money, destined to pay the final installment on a house, and says she has since been made aware of similar cases.
She says the fact that the incident happened just a few blocks from a police station, the time of day and how busy the area is, may be why the attackers left without taking the money: “I love Rio; I love Brazil. I’ve lived here sixteen years. But people have to know that these things happen.”
Police are continuing with their investigation and anyone with information is urged to contact the 42nd Police Delegation (42ª Delegacia de Polícia Civil, near Shopping Recreio) on (21) 2332-8039, quoting crime reference 042-01709/2013.
Find out more and provide your support at the web site created by his family.
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