João Carlos Speedo, a 61-year-old owner of a traditional bar in Itapuã, Vila Velha, was fatally stabbed on the night of Monday, October 23. The police investigation suggests that the murder was motivated by a debt between Speedo and the assailant, who was also a regular patron of the bar. Reports indicate that the assailant was pressured by a loan shark at the instigation of Speedo, who had been trying to collect the debt unsuccessfully for some time.

The lead investigator, Delegate Adriano Fernandes of the Specialized Division of Homicides and Protection of Persons (DHPP) in Vila Velha, emphasized that this is the primary line of investigation. The exact amount of the debt and its origins are still under scrutiny. Witnesses reportedly observed the suspect, a 58-year-old man, becoming agitated after being pursued for repayment, leading to his decision to stab the bar owner with a knife.

This incident highlights the lethal potential of conflicts arising from informal lending practices, especially in regions where such financial transactions are common. The local community is now grappling with the repercussions of this violence, reflecting concerns over safety and the influences of loan sharks in the area.