Death of militia member at party house in Rio’s West Zone adds to list of executions since Zinho’s arrest

The death of militiaman Ricardo Coelho da Silva, known as Scientist, aged 38, which occurred in the early hours of last Wednesday, during a birthday party at a party house in Tanque, in the West Zone of Rio, adds to a list of executions that took place after the arrest of Luís Antônio da Silva Braga, known as Zinho, on December 24 last year. Since he — head of the largest paramilitary group in the State of Rio — was arrested, the dispute over his estate has left a trail of blood: at least five high-ranking members have been murdered. There are also deaths of innocent people, such as a 9-year-old child.

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According to the police, Ricardo had taken over the Seropédica militia, in the Metropolitan Region of Rio, after the death of Tauã de Oliveira Francisco, 25 years old, known as Tubarão, which occurred during a police operation in February this year.

Militiamen killed

• Sérgio Rodrigues da Costa, known as Sérgio Bomba – was executed in a kiosk on the edge of Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the West Zone of Rio. He was being investigated for leading a militia in Sepetiba, also in the West Zone
• Antônio Carlos dos Santos Pinto, the Pit – appointed as Zinho’s right-hand man, he was also killed in December in an ambush in the Três Pontes community, in Paciência, in the West Zone
• Jairo Batista Freire, the Skull – He was considered one of Zinho’s trusted men and was killed in January, also in Três Pontes

Other deaths

• Amarildo Rodrigues Salles and Lucas Zulche Suhet Salles – were killed in an attack on a bar in Seropédica, in December last year. At the time, a third person was injured.
• 9 year old child – Militiaman Pit’s son was with his father when he was executed and was also shot. He was hospitalized, but died three days later

Former member of the Justice League

The scientist was a former member of the Justice League militia and the Braga clan, the brothers Carlos da Silva Braga, Carlinhos Três Pontes, killed in April 2017, Wellington da Silva Braga, Ecko, executed in June 2021, and Zinho.

In 2010, the militiaman was arrested. According to the agents, three arrest warrants were issued against him, two for the crime of murder and one for forming a gang. At the time, he was responsible for managing the Justice League’s “gatonet”, gas and transportation charges. At the time, three arrest warrants were served against him, two for the crime of murder and one for conspiracy.

In the early hours of this Wednesday, he was at a celebration on Rua Ponte Nova, when, according to witness reports, armed and hooded men invaded the place. They went towards the victim and shot.