Bystander shot in Rio de Janeiro during attempted robbery of off-duty police officer

A woman was shot in the leg on Saturday afternoon, November 25th, during an attempted robbery of an off-duty civil police officer in the Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro's North Zone. The incident occurred in front of a deactivated police booth at the intersection of Doutor Satamini and do Matoso streets. According to Civil Police, the officer reacted when the assailant, who arrived on a motorcycle, announced the robbery and stole his cell phone. The criminal noticed a bulge on the officer's person and suspected he was armed. Believing he was about to be killed, the officer returned fire. During the exchange, a woman passing by was struck in the leg by a stray bullet. She was taken to Municipal Hospital Souza Aguiar in stable condition. Security cameras captured the entire event, showing the initial approach and the subsequent shootout. The suspect, who sustained two gunshot wounds to the leg, was later identified by the officer when he sought medical attention at a local hospital. The suspect confessed to the robbery and attempted homicide, was discharged from the hospital, and is being transferred to the prison system. The case is under investigation by the 18th Police District (Praça da Bandeira).