Fifth Police Death in Rio Megaoperation Confirmed

Overview

• Rodrigo Vasconcellos Nascimento, an agent from the 39th Police Precinct in Pavuna, died at Hospital Copa D’Or after roughly 20 days of treatment for gunshot wounds.
• His death raises to five the number of security officers who have died as a result of the Megaoperação Contenção conducted in the Alemão and Penha complexes.
• The other victims were BOPE sergeants Cleiton Serafim Gonçalves and Heber Carvalho da Fonseca, civil police commissioner Marcus Vinícius Cardoso de Carvalho (known as Máskara) of the 53rd DP, and agent Rodrigo Velloso Cabral of the 39th DP.
• Authorities say Comando Vermelho gunmen opened fire as teams advanced, using burning barricades to block entry, and drone footage documented moments before one officer was killed.
• The action is described as the most lethal in Rio’s history, it involved state and federal forces, and it remains under formal investigation as leaders offer public condolences.