New footage obtained by Brazilian broadcaster Fantástico and published by G1 shows the moments before the beating that killed Cláudio Rafael Landeiro, 37, in the Copacabana neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. In the videos, delivery workers Felipe Eduardo dos Santos Silva and Ailton José da Silva film Rafael sitting on the steps of a building and call him a 'thief' shortly before the beating began. According to the Rio Civil Police investigation, the two had been told a suspected bicycle thief was in the area.
One of the delivery workers is heard on video saying, in Portuguese, that anyone caught stealing in the South Zone would be beaten, even killed. Moments later an unidentified man kicks Rafael. Security guard Davi Santos Machado arrives and begins hitting him with a piece of wood, while other bystanders also punch and kick him. Police say the beating lasted about nine minutes and that Rafael was struck 63 times with the club.
What led up to the attack
According to G1's reporting, on the night of August 11 Rafael left his home in the Botafogo neighborhood to ride a bicycle that belonged to his sister. Around 10:54 p.m. he stopped at a convenience store in Copacabana to ask for a single cigarette, then left after being told he would have to pay for it. Minutes later, at 11:21 p.m., security camera footage shows guard Davi talking to Rafael at the store entrance and asking three times whose bicycle it was. A store employee, who asked not to be identified, told reporters that was the entire exchange between the two men.
The bicycle had been locked to a rack near water jugs. Davi photographed it and later told the employee he had found its owner. He then called a second guard, Jorge Luiz Ricardo Dias, who is seen on camera taking the bicycle while Rafael tries to stop him. Davi then appears with a club, attacks Rafael and chases him through the streets of Copacabana.
Close to midnight, delivery workers who usually waited for orders on a nearby corner were told a suspected bike thief had been caught. 'They called and said a security guard had grabbed a thief there, you know?' one delivery worker told reporters. Felipe and Ailton headed to the spot Davi pointed them to and began following Rafael, who sat down on a building's staircase moments before he was filmed and attacked.
Investigation and arrests
After the beating, Rafael lay on the ground for about 30 minutes before help arrived. 'He was in agony on the ground, trying to get up until the fire department arrived. He was taken to receive care, but unfortunately he died,' said police chief Ângelo Lages, who is leading the investigation. Four people have been arrested: guards Davi Santos Machado and Jorge Luiz Ricardo Dias and delivery workers Felipe Eduardo dos Santos Silva and Ailton José da Silva. The two guards and Felipe have confessed; Ailton stayed silent during police questioning.
Civil Police said they are still reviewing security camera footage from the area to reconstruct the sequence of events and intend to identify other bystanders who witnessed the attack. 'Everyone who was there and witnessed this scene, we are going to identify them and we intend to hear them, because they could face charges for failing to provide assistance,' Lages said.