Source Emtempo

Manaus – On 22 February 2019, 53-year-old Tucano chief, Francisco de Souza Pereira, was shot dead in the « Urucaia » indigenous community in the New City neighborhood of Manaus.

The crime occurred around 1am. Francisco was sleeping with his wife and a daughter when the house on Bahia Street was invaded by three hooded men. Francisco’s wife Dulcinea Ferreira Lima, 53, said her husband was called out by name. When he answered, one of the hooded men kicked the door in, and then Francis begged for the life of his wife and daughter. « 

The killers ordered him to shut up. I put my hand over his mouth to tell him to be quiet, but then one of the men shot him twice. After that I protected my daughter”.

After the crime, the killers took three family cell phones and fled in an unmarked car that was parked at the entrance to the street. During the escape, one of the suspects still managed to shoot Francisco again in the head.

The criminal investigation by the Department of Technical-Scientific Police (DPTC) confirmed that there were no signs of a break-in. Francisco was hit at point-blank range with two shots to the head and two in the chest. The shots came from a 38-caliber revolver.

Dulcinea was asked if her husband had received death threats and remained silent for a few moments. According to her, Francisco worked as leader of indigenous lands and coordinated 42 villages in the region.

One resident, who declined to identify himself, reported that Francisco died because he had prevented sales of narcotics in the indigenous community. Since then, he has been confronted by drug traffickers in the area.

The body was removed to the Instituto Médico Legal (IML). The case will be investigated by the Homicide and Kidnapping Office (DEHS).

Author : Isac Sharlon