Brazilian Police Officer Arrested After Shooting Woman Armed With Knife

A police officer in São Paulo, Brazil, has been arrested and later released after shooting and killing a woman who authorities say charged at him with a knife. The incident occurred Thursday in the Pirituba neighborhood.

Military Police officer André da Costa and two colleagues were on patrol when they encountered Camila da Silva, 32. Video footage shows the officers ordering da Silva to drop the knife as she advanced toward them. Da Silva was then shot in the chest and died at the scene. Authorities are investigating the possibility that da Silva was experiencing a psychotic episode prior to the shooting. Her aunt indicated that da Silva had been dealing with health issues and was awaiting a liver transplant, and that her relationship with her estranged husband was contentious.

Da Costa was taken into custody but granted provisional release Friday by a judge, citing his lack of prior arrests. He has been suspended for one year and is barred from carrying a firearm during this period. He has also been assigned to desk duty and cannot travel outside São Paulo for more than eight days without permission.

According to da Costa's account, he and his partners were responding to a mechanical issue with one of their motorcycles when da Silva's estranged husband approached them, stating she had attempted to kill him. Da Silva then arrived with the knife and did not comply with commands to surrender.

However, São Paulo Military Police Chief João Murgolo, who ordered da Costa's arrest, questioned the use of lethal force. He stated in a report that da Silva did not pose an imminent threat, as she did not attack or make aggressive movements toward the officers at the moment of the shooting. "Even if we accept the version that he was advancing towards the patrol, the mere movement of a person with a knife in hand, with arms down and without an offensive gesture, several meters away, does not in itself constitute imminent aggression that authorizes lethal force," Murgolo wrote.

This incident marks the third death involving the São Paulo Military Police in just over a week where the individual was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis.

On October 3, officers shot and killed Antonio Batista, 40, in Vila Dionísia after he allegedly threatened pedestrians with a knife and a metal pole. He was initially incapacitated by a stun gun before officers discharged their weapons, firing multiple times.

On October 10, Gustavo da Santana, 20, was shot 27 times in Moema. Police responded to a call reporting he was attempting suicide and reportedly mistook his cell phone for a gun.

In response to these incidents, São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas announced a meeting with the Military Police command to review procedures and training for handling individuals with mental illnesses. "We will have a meeting with the Military Police command next week to review procedures and training, to prevent excesses," he stated. "We don’t want that, and the police have to protect society. So, we are attentive to this issue and we do see a need to review procedures."