'Anyone who shoots a police officer is not a worker, he is a criminal,' says Tarcísio

Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) used social media this Friday, 8, to speak out about the case of Corporal Santana, a military police officer who was hit by a gunshot in the community of Paraisópolis, south of São Paulo, last Thursday, 7.
"I have been following the progress of Corporal Santana, who was cowardly attacked, and I pray for his recovery," the governor said in a text posted on X (formerly Twitter). "Anyone who shoots a police officer is not a worker or a victim of society; they are criminals. They will not go unpunished," he added.
Corporal Santana was shot in the neck during a police operation in the Paraisópolis community. Body camera footage and videos recorded by witnesses captured the scene (see above).
The man who fired the shot had been subdued by the officer, but managed to turn around and shoot the officer in the neck. The bullet went through, meaning it went in and out. Another suspect also stole the officer's gun. Both remain at large.
Even after being shot, the corporal managed to radio the police. He was rescued by the PM's Águia helicopter and taken to the Hospital das Clínicas in the west zone.
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VIDEO: Body camera captures moment police officer is shot in Paraisópolis
In a note sent to the press at the end of the afternoon this Friday, the State Public Security Secretariat (SSP-SP) informs that Corporal Santana is in a stable condition and remains hospitalized.
Earlier, the State Security Secretary, Guilherme Derrite, reported that the corporal's clinical condition was improving and he could be released today.
"Information that much of the press didn't ask for, but society wants to know: I've just been informed that Corporal Santana was evaluated by the HC team and is clinically well, with an estimated discharge date today. He will soon undergo another follow-up CT scan to validate the clinical analysis," he says in the post.
The case
According to the Military Police, the incident began near the Chácara Santo Antônio area in the South Zone. Police were reportedly called because criminals were committing robberies in the neighborhood on three motorcycles.
On Rua África do Sul, military police officers from the Radio Patrol team spotted one of the motorcycles. They attempted to stop it, but the criminals fled and were pursued to Paraisópolis.
In the community, the officer got into a physical fight with a suspect and was shot. After the shooting, police teams, including riot police, were dispatched to Paraisópolis and surrounded the community in search of three suspects, including a teenager.
One of the wanted men is suspected of being part of a gang specializing in motorcycle theft and has allegedly committed at least four crimes since 2022. Another suspect has also been identified.
In a statement, the Public Security Secretariat informs that the Military Police continues with reinforced policing in the Paraisópolis region, “carrying out investigations to locate the two perpetrators involved in the incident” and also to “recover the police officer's weapon, stolen during the action”.
“The SSP regrets the incident and reiterates that efforts to locate and detain the criminals will continue until those involved are effectively arrested,” the department stated.
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