On Wednesday, the jury acquitted police officers Diego Pereira Leal and Aslan Wagner Ribeiro de Faria of homicide charges stemming from the death of 13-year-old Thiago Menezes Flausino during a police operation in Cidade de Deus, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro's West Zone, earlier in 2023. The ruling was delivered by Judge Renan de Freitas Ongaratto of the 2nd Jury Court, which also acquitted the officers of attempted homicide charges against Marcos Vinícius de Souza Queiroz, who was driving the motorcycle that Thiago was on at the time of the incident.

The officers, part of the Shock Battalion during the operation, are also facing charges of procedural fraud related to the incident, as the Public Ministry of Rio alleges that they were operating in a private vehicle during a police operation referred to as 'Tróia.' The officers claimed that Thiago was armed and fired at them, and they admitted to shooting that resulted in the teenager’s death and left Marcos Vinícius injured, though he survived.

This case exemplifies the ongoing tensions between law enforcement and communities in Brazil, particularly in favelas like Cidade de Deus, where allegations of police violence and misconduct are prevalent. The acquittal of the officers may reignite protests and discussions around police accountability and the use of force, highlighting the complexity of policing in areas marked by crime and poverty.