The São Paulo Public Ministry (MP-SP) has submitted a request to close the investigation into the shooting death of Senegalese vendor Ngange Mbaye, who was killed by police officer Paulo Junior Soares de Carvalho during a regulatory action in Brás, a well-known commercial area in São Paulo. According to prosecutor Lucas de Mello Schaefer, the officer acted in legitimate self-defense in response to what he described as an "unjust aggression," asserting that the use of force was proportionate under the circumstances. This conclusion comes amid conflicting accounts of the events leading up to the shooting.

On the day of the incident in April 2025, Ngange had just exited a restaurant after lunch and was on his way back to his cart, where his merchandise was secured on the sidewalk, when he was confronted by municipal inspectors and military police. Security camera footage released by G1 revealed that at the moment of the encounter, he was not selling any products, raising questions about the justification for the police action.

The decision now lies with the judiciary to determine whether to accept the Public Ministry's request to halt the investigation. This case underscores the ongoing issues related to police conduct and the treatment of marginalized communities in Brazil, particularly regarding violence against vendors and immigrants, and it may provoke further public debate about legal protections for individuals in similar situations.