Bruno Pereira argued with suspect before being killed in the Amazon

news summary

• Before being murdered, Bruno Pereira argued with Jeferson da Silva Lima

• Man was the third arrested and confessor involved in the crime

• Jeferson was fishing pirarucu in the Itacoaí river when he argued with Bruno

Before being murdered, indigenist Bruno Pereira argued with Jeferson da Silva Lima, known as “Pelado da Dinha”, one of the suspects in the crime. The man was fishing pirarucu, a typical fish of the region, when he met Bruno and the English journalist Dom Phillips.

According to the g1 portal, the information was provided by Amarildo da Costa Oliveira, known as “Pelado”, another suspect involved in the crime. The statement was given when, along with Pelado, the Federal Police was reconstructing the crime last week.

Bruno and Dom would have found Jeferson on the Itacoaí River, near the Cachoeira Community, in Atalaia do Norte. Amarildo, however, did not go into details about the reasons for the discussion between the two.

According to the suspect, Jefferson would have been responsible for shooting the indigenist and the journalist.

“So Jeferson, nicknamed Pelado, he was here in his wooden canoe killing an arapaima, is that it?”, questioned the delegate. And Amarildo confirms it.

Bruno Pereira was the target of threats for inspecting illegal weighing on indigenous lands. Fishing for arapaima, for example, is only allowed in a certain part of the year and in specific areas. In indigenous lands, you cannot fish.

Amarildo also described that Bruno reacted to the attacks and there was an exchange of fire. When hit, the indigenist lost control of the speedboat and entered a floodplain area. There, Dom was also killed.

Jefferson, the third suspect in the killings, confessed to the crime. Oseney da Costa Oliveira, Amarildo’s brother, denies the accusations, but is also in prison. Another five people are suspected of helping to bury the bodies and will answer for hiding the corpse, but they can answer in freedom.

According to the Union of Indigenous Peoples (Univaja), Bruno had a firearm and authorization to work with a gun. On the day of the crime, he had dismissed the security guards who accompanied him.