Special forces officer killed in a friendly fire shooting in Brazil

A shooting in the Gardênia Azul area of Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning left a sub-lieutenant from the state police’s special operations battalion, Bope, dead and four other military police officers wounded. Authorities are investigating whether officers from another unit mistook the Bope team for criminals.

The incident occurred in the city’s Southwest Zone. The wounded officers—three from Bope and one from the 18th Military Police Battalion in Jacarepaguá—were taken to Lourenço Jorge Municipal Hospital in Barra da Tijuca.

Witnesses told police that members of the 18th Battalion failed to recognize the Bope unit, which was patrolling the area, and opened fire after mistaking the officers for criminals. The military police said it would investigate the circumstances of the confrontation.

A police vehicle was left with multiple bullet marks, according to images published by local media.

The shooting also disrupted traffic: Rio’s operations center said two lanes of Ayrton Senna Avenue, near Espaço Hall and heading toward the Linha Amarela expressway, were closed at about 6:30 a.m.