Federal highway police officers become defendants in the death of a student during an approach in Rio

Federal highway police officers Thiago Sá, Jansen Ferreira, Diogo Silva dos Santos and Wagner Leandro Rocha de Souza were charged by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) for involvement in the death of student Anne Caroline Nascimento, aged 23, during an approach on the Washington Luiz highway (BR-040), Duque de Caxias (RJ), on June 17, 2023.

At the time, the student was returning from a restaurant with her husband when the couple, according to the PRF, did not obey an order to stop from the agents, who organized a blitz on the highway. According to the MPF, the agents fired eight rifle shots at the couple's vehicle, resulting in the young woman's death.

One of the shots hit another vehicle on the same highway, seriously injuring day laborer Claudia dos Santos, who survived.

All four police officers were charged by the MPF with qualified homicide, the penalty for which can reach up to 30 years in prison, as well as procedural fraud, attempted murder and serious bodily injury due to negligence.

However, the Court partially accepted the MPF's complaint. Only Thiago and Jansen became defendants for attempted and completed murder, as well as bodily injury. Thiago would have been the author of the eight rifle shots and Jansen would have induced his colleague to carry out the shots.

The court also accepted the MPF's accusation of procedural fraud. In addition to Thiago and Jansen, agents Diogo and Wagner will face legal action for having violated their functional duty to isolate the scene of the crime and preserve the traces left on the road and in the vehicles involved.

According to the complaint, upon realizing that a person was injured, one of the police officers took the wheel of the affected vehicle and drove to the hospital, followed by the PRF vehicle, when they could have asked for reinforcements from a nearby police detachment to help the victim and, at the same time, At the same time, the crime scene was preserved.

The MPF says it is evaluating the possibility of appealing the decision to the Federal Regional Court of the 2nd Region. The agency wants everyone involved to be held responsible for the crimes of homicide and bodily harm.

Removal from activities

In addition to accepting the complaint, the Court determined that the PRFs must comply with specific precautionary measures. Therefore, they will not be able to approach the vehicle used on the day of the alleged crime until it has been completely inspected.

Furthermore, they were ordered to avoid contact with witnesses and victims' families, to prevent any form of intimidation or threat.

It was also determined that the defendants would be removed from their police duties, with the removal of their weapons, although they could be reassigned to administrative tasks at the institution.

*Under the supervision of André Rigue