CRICIĂMA, Brazil, October 27, 2026 â Brazilian police shot and wounded a man accused of attacking a woman and threatening her with what appeared to be a handgun during a confrontation on a residential street in southern Brazil. The dramatic intervention, captured on video, ended with the woman’s rescue and the discovery that the weapon was fake.
WOMAN SCREAMS & CRIES in TERROR as GUNMAN GRAPPLES HER & PRESSES a PISTOL to her HEAD in SOUTH BRAZIL POLICE STORM IN and DROP ARMED ATTACKER with a CLEAN SHOT https://t.co/shkK3DQTfS
— RT (@RT_com) October 27, 2026
The incident happened Monday morning, October 26, in the Vila Rica neighborhood of CriciĂșma, Santa Catarina. Police classified the assault as an attempted femicide and confirmed that both the woman and the suspect were taken to hospital alive.
Brazilian police shot a man who assaulted and threatened his partner with a fake gun in Criciuma, southern Brazil. Video shows him striking her and attempting to use her as a human shield as officers arrived. Both were taken to hospital for treatment. https://t.co/EW7YSD44WU
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 27, 2026
Woman Screamed for Help as Suspect Attacked Her in Street
According to Brazilian police, the confrontation unfolded around 9:30 a.m. after the woman fled into the street seeking help.
A passing motorist reportedly attempted to intervene but was threatened by the suspect. Police were subsequently alerted to the attack.
When officers arrived, they found the man allegedly restraining the woman around her neck, repeatedly striking her head and threatening her with an object resembling a handgun.
Lieutenant Colonel MĂĄrio Luiz Silva, commander of the 9th Military Police Battalion, said the suspect continued assaulting the woman despite the officers’ presence.
Police Fired Two Shots After Suspect Ignored Commands
Officers repeatedly ordered the man to release the woman, stop attacking her and lower the apparent weapon, according to the Military Police.
The suspect allegedly ignored those instructions and continued threatening the victim.
Police said the confrontation escalated when the man attempted to regain control of the weapon-shaped object. An officer then fired two shots, striking the suspect and ending the assault.
Silva described the intervention as an attempt to protect the woman from an immediate threat. His explanation was reported by Brazilian news outlet SCC10.
Authorities have not publicly established whether both shots struck the man or released a final determination on the use of force.
Viral Video Shows Police Confronting Suspect
Witness footage captures the tense encounter beside a residential wall as officers approach the man and the injured woman.
The recording reportedly shows the suspect restraining the victim while officers issue commands. Gunshots are then heard as police intervene.
The video has circulated through Brazilian media and social platforms, drawing attention to the woman’s rescue and the officers’ decision to open fire.
However, the footage does not establish everything that happened before police arrived or independently resolve whether the shooting was legally justified.
Gun Was Fake, but Officers Also Found a Knife
After the suspect was subdued, police discovered that the apparent handgun was a replica firearm, known in Brazil as a “simulacro.”
Officers also recovered a knife from the man.
The discovery is significant because responding officers reportedly believed the woman was being threatened with a genuine firearm.
Although the gun was fake, police said the suspect had used the object to threaten and strike the woman. Investigators must assess the circumstances of the shooting based on the threat officers faced at the time.
Woman and Suspect Hospitalized After Confrontation
The woman sustained injuries to her head, face and neck during the assault, according to police.
Emergency responders from Brazil’s Mobile Emergency Care Service, SAMU, provided assistance before both individuals were transported to Hospital SĂŁo JosĂ© in CriciĂșma.
Neither person was reported dead in the initial accounts. Their latest medical conditions had not been confirmed in the reports available on October 27.
The authorities have not publicly disclosed their identities or ages.
Suspect Had Previous Domestic Violence Complaints
Police said the suspect had previous records involving domestic violence, including allegations concerning the same woman.
Those earlier reports raise questions about whether protective measures were in place before Monday’s attack. However, authorities have not confirmed whether the woman had obtained a protective order or whether the man had previous convictions.
Questions surrounding police interventions in violent incidents have also emerged in the Luton police shooting investigation, although the circumstances and legal systems differ.
Attempted Femicide Investigation Continues
Brazil’s Civil Police and Scientific Police attended the scene to examine the evidence and investigate the confrontation.
The incident was initially classified as attempted femicide, involving an alleged attempt to kill a woman because of her gender.
Investigators will examine the witness footage, recovered weapons, suspect’s actions and police response.
In a separate case involving the legal assessment of a shooting, prosecutors reviewed the evidence before reaching a charging decision in a Florida Walmart parking lot shooting.
As of October 27, authorities had not confirmed whether the CriciĂșma suspect had been formally charged, whether either patient had been discharged or whether additional findings concerning the shooting had been released.
The woman’s recovery, her future safety and the outcome of the investigation remain the most important developments to follow.
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