Police Inspector Cleared for Psychiatric Hospital Release After Killing Colleagues

A court in Camocim, Ceará, Brazil, has authorized the psychiatric de-internment of Inspector Antônio Alves Dourado, who is accused of fatally shooting four colleagues at the Camocim Civil Police Station in May 2023. Dourado, who was off-duty at the time, reportedly entered the station and killed three officers inside and one outside before fleeing in a police vehicle. He later surrendered to military police. Initially held in a prison, Dourado allegedly attempted to kill a cellmate. In November 2024, he received a mental insanity diagnosis from forensic experts, rendering him not subject to trial for the killings. His defense stated the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, which impairs reality comprehension, was based on expert evaluations. In July 2025, his pre-trial detention was converted to psychiatric hospitalization in Fortaleza. The recent decision allows Dourado to leave the hospital for outpatient treatment at his new residence in Belém, Pará. This ruling was based on two medical reports and multidisciplinary assessments concluding he is not criminally responsible due to severe mental disorder, has shown significant clinical improvement, and no longer requires hospitalization, provided he continues outpatient treatment with medical supervision, medication, and psychosocial support. The Public Prosecutor's Office of Ceará opposed the release, arguing the reports did not fully dismiss his dangerousness, as clinical stability depends on continued treatment. However, the court rejected this, stating that the mere possibility of future treatment abandonment should not justify indefinite hospitalization and that the severity of the alleged crimes does not preclude flexibility in the measure.