A 10-year-old girl lost her life in a devastating shooting while traveling with her father to her cousin’s birthday party in Baixada Fluminense, Brazil. Sophia Loren Soares Camilo suffered fatal injuries from six bullets during the attack, which also left her father, Diogo, wounded.
The Tragic Incident
The shooting occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, when an armed suspect approached the vehicle carrying Sophia and her father. Diogo stopped the car after the man demanded he halt, activating his hazard lights and identifying himself as a local resident. Despite this, the assailant fired eight rounds at the vehicle.
Sophia sustained gunshot wounds to her chest and legs, while Diogo was injured in his lower body. He managed to drive them to a nearby hospital, where Sophia arrived in critical condition. Both were later transferred to another facility, but the young girl succumbed to her injuries there.
Family’s Heartfelt Tributes
Sophia’s uncle, Victor Rocha, paid an emotional tribute to his niece, describing her as a “sweet, kind girl who had dreams.” He added, “She loved to hug. She was an exceptional girl. She already talked to me about her dreams and plans, even though it was childish stuff.”
Victor provided more details about the events, stating, “Diogo was coming from the mall with my niece, in his car, to bring her to my nephew’s party, when he was approached by a highly drugged individual with a gun in his hand. This guy managed to destroy two families at the same time. He shattered the dream of a 10-year-old child and ruined the life of a father, not to mention the rest of the family.”
Sophia’s cousin, Clayton Soares, expressed the family’s profound grief, saying, “It’s very difficult. We’re even speechless. We just want justice because otherwise he’ll be back on the streets soon. He destroyed two families. We are devastated. We just want justice and I hope that happens.”
Police Response and Arrest
Authorities quickly apprehended the suspect near the scene in the Gogó da Ema community, Bom Pastor neighborhood, Belford Roxo. Military police from the 39th Battalion arrested the individual and seized the firearm used in the shooting. The case has been referred to the 54th Police Station for further investigation.
