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PRF Agents Involved in Shooting of 26-Year-Old Juliana Leite Rangel on BR-040 Removed from Duty; More Than 30 Shots Fired

Dec 25, 2024, 06:26 PM

On the night of December 24, 2024, a 26-year-old woman named Juliana Leite Rangel was critically injured when she was shot in the head during an operation by the Polícia Rodoviária Federal (PRF) on the BR-040 highway in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro. The incident occurred as she was traveling with her family to a Christmas dinner. Reports indicate that PRF agents mistakenly fired upon the family's vehicle, with more than 30 shots reportedly fired. Following the shooting, the PRF confirmed that the involved officers were removed from their duties, and a federal investigation has been launched into the incident. Juliana was taken to the hospital in grave condition, and her state of health remains critical. The case has drawn significant attention, prompting discussions about police conduct and accountability in Brazil, with the Ministério Público Federal (MPF) opening a criminal investigation into the actions of the PRF agents involved.