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A cop was arrested and later released after he shot and killed a woman who charged at him with a knife after she allegedly tried to kill her estranged husband in Brazil.
Harrowing video showed Military Police officer André da Costa and his two partners ordering Camila da Silva, 32, to drop the weapon on a street in the northern São Paulo neighborhood of Pirituba on Thursday.
Da Silva, a mother of two, advanced towards the police officers while holding the knife next to her leg and was shot in the chest.
Authorities believe that da Silva may have had a psychotic episode prior to being shot.
Da Costa was taken into custody and was granted his provisional release following a custody hearing in court Friday, according to Brazilian news outlets.
Judge Lucas Bannwart said he released da Costa from custody because he has never been arrested in the past. As part of the investigation, da Costa was suspended for one year and will not be permitted to carry a gun.
Da Costa, who is still under investigation for the December 2025 killing of a robbery suspect who was holding a fake gun, was assigned to desk duty and is barred from traveling outside São Paulo for more than eight days without permission.
Da Costa told investigators that he and the two other cops, who are assigned to the Military Police’s Motorcycle -Assisted Patrol Unit, were patrolling Pirituba when one of their motorcycles had a mechanical issue.
The bike was taken to an area repair shop for service when da Silva’s husband, Diogo Silva, ran up to the police officers and told them that she attempted to kill him.
Da Silva arrived on the scene moments later brandishing the knife and refused orders to surrender.
São Paulo Military Police Chief João Murgolo, who ordered da Costa’s arrest, did not agree with his decision to shoot da Silva, arguing that she did not pose an imminent threat.
“At the moment of the shooting, the victim did not attack any of the military police officers, nor did he make any movement to attack the officer in front,” he said in a report. “At the moment of the shot, the victim made no striking motion: he did not raise his arm, did not brandish the knife, and did not advance suddenly.
“Even if we accept the version that he was advancing towards the patrol, the mere movement of a person with a knife in hand, with arms down and without an offensive gesture, several meters away, does not in itself constitute imminent aggression that authorizes lethal force.”
Silva told investigators that he and da Silva separated five months ago but that she was not happy that they were no longer together. Da Silva showed up at Silva’s new home Thursday but did not exchange any words with him when he stepped out and later threatened him.
Da Silva’s aunt told the authorities that she was battling health issues the last five years — the last two were spent waited for a liver transplant.
She added that the married couple’s relationship was marred by disagreements and that da Silva did not approve of Silva’s new girlfriend.
Da Silva is the third person in 12 days who the São Paulo Military Police shot and killed after having a mental-health crisis.
On Oct. 3, police officers approached Antonio Batista, 40, in the northern São Paulo neighborhood of Vila Dionísia after he allegedly threatened pedestrians with a knife and a metal pole. He was shot with a stun gun and was motionless on the ground before the cops discharged their service weapons and shot him 24 times.
Gustavo da Santana, 20, was shot 27 times by officers Oct. 10 in the southern São Paulo neighborhood of Moema after they mistook his cell phone for a gun while responding to a call that he was attempting to take his own life.
São Paulo Governor Tarcíso de Freitas told reporters Friday that a meeting has been scheduled to address ways in which the police can better handle situations when confronting individuals who are mentally ill.
“We will have a meeting with the Military Police command next week to review procedures and training, to prevent excesses,” he said. “We don’t want that, and the police have to protect society. So, we are attentive to this issue and we do see a need to review procedures.”