The mother of an 18-year-old assault victim believes earlier warnings about violence could have saved lives in the wake of her son's attack and a subsequent death.
Amanda Azevedo reflects on the tragic fate of her son, who was assaulted by pilot Pedro Arthur Turra Basso and subsequently fell into a coma for 16 days. She suggests that if authorities had acted on her son's case with more seriousness, another young man, Rodrigo Castanheira, might still be alive today. Rodrigo was killed six months later following a violent confrontation that involved similar circumstances of aggression, raising concerns about how such cases are treated by law enforcement.
The assault on Azevedo's son occurred in June 2025, when he was confronted by Turra and several associates in Águas Claras. Reports indicate that Turra used physical violence, which included punches to the face and ribs and a chokehold maneuver known as 'mata-leão.' The intervention of multiple assailants during the incident led to significant trauma for the victim, highlighting ongoing issues with street violence in the area.
The mother’s plea emphasizes a broader context of violence among youth in Brazil, particularly in urban settings where escalations can lead to tragic outcomes. Following the resurgence of interest in her son's case and the death of Rodrigo, Azevedo calls for authorities to take similar assaults more seriously, suggesting that neglecting such signs could lead to further tragedies in the community.
