Police Kill 16-Year-Old in Rio; Outrage and Protests Erupt

A 16-year-old boy, David Silva Pereira, was fatally shot by military police in Duque de Caxias, a city in the Baixada Fluminense region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The shooting occurred on June 3, 2025, during a police stop. Witnesses claim the officers fired at David from behind as he attempted to escape on a motorcycle, without providing aid. His mother, heartbroken and outraged, stated, "My son was only 16 years old; his only weapon was this shirt." The police have confirmed that one officer fired the fatal shot, and both officers involved have been preventively removed from duty. A civil police investigation is underway. The incident sparked protests, with demonstrators blocking the BR-040 highway, highlighting concerns about police brutality and the loss of innocent young lives. According to the Instituto Fogo Cruzado, at least 16 children and adolescents have been shot in the metropolitan region of Rio this year, seven fatally, averaging one death per month. This tragic event underscores the need for greater accountability and reform within law enforcement.