São Paulo probes two deadly police shootings; all officers involved suspended

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The first case occurred in the early hours of October 10 in Moema, in São Paulo's south zone. Gustavo Muniz de Santana, a 20-year-old hospital apprentice, was shot by four military police officers during an approach; about 45 rounds were fired and 27 hit him. He died at the scene.

The officers say they had been called to a suspected suicide attempt and mistook the cell phone in Gustavo's hand for a firearm; they claim he fled and made a sudden movement interpreted as an armed threat. His family disputes this, saying he had no suicidal intent, that only a phone was found on him, and that the officers gave contradictory statements at the police station.

In the second case, in the city's north zone, Antônio Nunes Batista was killed by 24 gunshots; 24 shell casings were recovered. Police say he was threatening pedestrians with a knife and an iron bar, that they first used a stun gun, and then fired in self-defense. His family says he suffered from schizophrenia and was only carrying a bag. None of the officers involved were wearing body cameras.

The São Paulo Public Security Secretariat says both cases are being investigated in parallel by the Civil Police's homicide department (DHPP) and the Military Police's internal affairs; all officers involved have been temporarily suspended, and the officers' weapons, the victims' phones and any body-camera footage have been seized for forensic examination. Gustavo was buried on October 12.