Arrests in Marielle Franco killing, Rio police in spotlight

[Judi Lynn]

6. Folha, Brazil: Former Police Officers Arrested In Killing Councilwoman Marielle Franco

Investigators claim that one of them shot the politician and the other drove the car

Mar.13.2019 5:13PM

Lucas Vettorazzo
Ana Luiza Albuquerque
RIO DE JANEIRO

The Rio de Janeiro's police announced on Tuesday (12th) the arrest of former police officer Ronnie Lessa and Élcio Vieira de Queiroz, 46. Both are suspected of taking part in the execution of councilwoman Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes, two days short of the crime's one-year anniversary. Both suspects claim they are innocent.

According to investigators, Lessa opened fire on Franco and Gomes, and Queiroz drove the car which intercepted Franco and from where Lessa shot the councilwoman.

. . .

State attorneys said that the execution was carefully planned for three months, and Franco was assassinated because of her human rights activism. The investigators found out that Lessa researched the councilwoman's routine and schedules for weeks before the crime happened. He also researched schedules of other left-wing politicians, like House representative Marcelo Freixo (PSOL), who was close to Franco.

. . .
Alexandre Motta, a friend of Lessa's, was also arrested for keeping an illegal amount of weapons in his house. Police found 117 pieces to assemble M-16 rifles and 500 pieces of ammunition, all in cardboard boxes.

More:
https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2019/03/former-police-officers-arrested-in-killing-councilwoman-marielle-franco.shtml