A convicted paedophile in Brazil was shot dead on the streets of Sinop just hours after being released from prison under an open regime.
Joao Ferreira da Silva, 46, had been serving a 42-year prison sentence for the sexual abuse and murder of nine-year-old Bruno Aparecido dos Santos in 2005. Ferreira da Silva had spent 17 years behind bars for luring the child to an industrial site, committing the crimes, and burying him, before being arrested for a separate attack on another child.
He was killed on Wednesday, December 10, shortly after beginning an open prison arrangement that only required him to return to custody at night. Local reports say that two masked men approached him, and three bullet casings were recovered at the scene.
The murder prompted a police operation to identify and apprehend the suspects. Authorities have not yet made any arrests or confirmed whether the shooting was directly connected to Ferreira da Silva’s past crimes.
The boy’s mother, Josiana da Silva, expressed relief at the death of Ferreira da Silva, saying she hoped no other child would be harmed. She also spoke about the lasting grief over the loss of her son, who would have been 29 years old.
A CCTV clip from the scene shows two masked men walking past Ferreira da Silva shortly before the shooting. Police continue to appeal for information as investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
