*This story was updated on May 20, 2020.
Leonardo Pinheiro (Facebook)
Journalist Leonardo Pinheiro was killed while conducting an interview on the afternoon of May 13 in the municipality of Araruama in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The seaside city of 132,000 is 74 miles from the state capital.
Pinheiro, who owned the Facebook page A Voz Araruamense and collaborated with the page Fala Araruama, was reporting when a car approached, he was told to kneel and was shot, according to what Fala Araruama posted on its Facebook page.
“We from the Fala Araruama team, repudiate all violence that took the life of a co-worker, reporter Léo Pinheiro, murdered today May 13, 2020, we support the family, may God comfort them!,” the news page wrote. “May the authorities investigate this barbaric crime against our friend, Léo had talent in his interviews, rest in peace Léo Pinheiro.”
The journalist covered local and community issues through posts, photos and videos published on Facebook, in which he demanded solutions for the population’s problems from city and state authorities.
Pinheiro was also a community leader and a candidate for city councillor, according to G1.
The National Newspaper Association (ANJ, for its acronym in Portuguese) released a statement in which it lamented Pinheiro's murder.
"Leonardo's murder shows, once again, the insecurity for journalistic activity in the country, fueled by impunity. ANJ hopes that the police authorities will quickly investigate the crime, find the culprits and bring them to justice, to be punished in terms of the law. Impunity in crimes against journalists is an affront to the whole of Brazilian society. "
According to newspaper Extra, the Civil Police carried out an investigation at the scene of the crime and launched an investigation to investigate the circumstances of the journalist's death and clarify the case.
*Update includes statement from ANJ and information about the police investigation.
