Seven Bodies Left in Truck Following Weekend Shootouts in Angra dos Reis

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Seven bodies were found in the back of a truck this Sunday, December 15th, in Angra dos Reis, south coast of Rio, after a weekend of shootings.

According to Rio’s Civil Police, “investigations are underway to determine if the case has indeed resulted in a confrontation between rival criminal factions”.

The truck with the bodies was left in front of a Fire Department station.

Gunshots were reported in Angra on Saturday and Sunday, December 14th and 15th. According to the State Police (PM), an operation of the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE) in the neighborhood of Frade met resistance and there was gunfire between police and criminals.

“During a search in the area, criminals shot at the police forces, who reacted,” says a note released by the PM’s press office.

The PM has not reported whether there were fatalities or injuries resulting from the BOPE’s operation. Still according to the corporation, police officers seized “three rifles (two 762 caliber rifles and one 556 caliber rifle), three pistols, two grenades and a radio communicator” during the operation.

One occurrence was recorded at the 166th Police Precinct (DP), the same Civil Police unit investigating the case of the bodies abandoned in the truck.