On the night of 08 December 2018, Rodrigo Celestino, 38, member of Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (Movement of Rural Landless), was shot dead in Paraíba state, municipality of Alhambra (45km of João Pessoa), Brazil.
On that day, not only was Rodrigo murdered, but José Bernardo da Silva, known as Orlando, 46 years old, another MST leader was also killed.
The human rights defenders were having dinner with other people when, suddenly, gunmen with their faces covered, burst into the camp (called Dom José Maria Pires). The killers ordered everyone to move away from the two leaders, and then shot them.
According to information from MST group, Brazilian public services expressed their sorrow at the leaders’ deaths..