BRAZIL: São Paulo Policeman Killed, Police Investigate Involvement of Organized Crime Body

On December 31, 2012, O Estado de São Paulo reported that a policeman was shot and killed in Araçatuba. Antônio Roberto Rodrigues Costa, 39, was sitting in his police vehicle when he was shot three times. He pursued the gunmen, but lost control of his vehicle and hit a pedestrian. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries and was released. Costa later died. The homicide comes just a month after local judges granted an injunction to allow local police to use their weapons while off duty. Costa was off duty when he was shot. Police are investigating whether or not the suspects were on temporary leave from prison. Other intelligence reports that the suspects received a list from the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), a local organized crime body. Read Article