Brazil Elections: Pro-Bolsonaro Gubernatorial Candidate Stops Campaign Event After Gunshots Were Fired

By Rick Martin First Posted: Oct 17, 2022 09:17 PM EDT

A Sao Paulo gubernatorial candidate was supposed to hold a campaign event in one of Brazil's biggest favelas, or slums, Paraisopolis. However, gubernatorial candidate Tarcisio Gomes de Freitas was forced to halt his campaigning in the area after gunfire erupted outside.

Several journalists, as well as de Freitas, who is allied with Brazil's far-right incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro, were forced to crouch down below windows as gunfire was heard. On Twitter, the pro-Bolsonaro politician condemned the attack and stated that the shootings were done by criminals.

According to the Associated Press, current Sao Paulo Governor Rodrigo Garcia released a statement and said that he had already ordered an investigation into the shooting.

Sao Paulo State Police Chief Osvaldo Nico held a press conference and stated that there was another shooting in the region, with one person being killed. However, this shooting had no connection with what happened during de Freitas's campaign event.

It Is Not Clear if Tarcisio Gomes de Freitas Was the Target of the Attack

The politician was visiting the Polo Universitario de Paraisopolis when the shooting happened. He stated that one of the "bandits" was shot by authorities, but they are still working out the details of the situation.

According to Money Times, the gunmen shot at the building where he was holding his campaign event, forcing him and a group of journalists to duck into cover. However, the media who were there reported that it is not clear whether he was the target of the attack.

Following the incident, the state's Armed Robbery Repression Group and the Department of Strategic Police Operations were sent to investigate the case.

De Freitas himself was not hurt. He and everyone else were all immediately evacuated following the attack. According to Radio Journal, he was escorted by military police after he left the building.

Several journalists at the scene also reported that there was a riot after the shots were fired. Sao Paulo Police are now investigating the incident.

Before running for governor, de Freitas served as the infrastructure minister for the Bolsonaro government. He remains a staunch ally of Bolsonaro even after resigning from his position to run for governor.

He is currently running against leftist Fernando Haddad, who is backed by Bolsonaro's opponent and presidential frontrunner, Lula.

Violence Expected in This Year's Brazilian Elections

The Sao Paolo gubernatorial race is seen as the proxy for the presidential race between Lula and Bolsonaro. Not only is it one of the most important states in Brazil, it is also the most populous, with the largest economic power of any state. The gubernatorial race in Sao Paolo is also seen as the most prominent.

Election-related violence has marked this year's Brazilian elections, starting with a man supporting President Bolsonaro killing a pro-Lula labor leader earlier this year.

Lula has since called for calm, but Bolsonaro's fiery rhetoric has bolstered attacks on Lula supporters, with drones being used for petty pranks to rocks being thrown at Lula supporters during rallies.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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