Protests are taking place across Brazil after popular Rio city politician Marielle Franco was gunned brutally gunned down in the city in what many believe to be a targeted assassination.
According to the Guardian, Franco, 38, was a groundbreaking politician who had become a voice for disadvantaged people in the teeming favelas which house more than a quarter of the city’s Rio de Janeiro’s population. She was working hard to fight against the crippling poverty, police brutality and corruption and the gang violence hold many of the favela residences in fear.
Franco’s driver Anderson Pedro Gomes also lost his life during the shooting. A full investigation into the shooting has been launched.
Two police officials told Associated Press that two men in a car fired nine shots into the vehicle carrying Franco and her driver, Anderson Pedro Gomes on Wednesday night. A press officer who was seated in the back was shot but not killed, but the officers feel that the revolutionary politician was the target.
“I’m here at the request of President Temer,” Public Security Minister Raul Jungmann said at a press conference. “I would like to tell the friends of relatives of Marielle that we will find those responsible and punish them for this barbaric crime… Justice will be done.”
