Brazil favela residents protest after 8-year-old shot

RIO DE JANEIRO – Hundreds of residents of one of Rio de Janeiro’s largest shantytowns marched Saturday to demand an end to the violence after an 8-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet during a police operation.

Ágatha Sales Félix was hit by the bullet Friday in the Complexo do Alemao shantytown amid what police said was shootout with suspected criminals.

Residents blamed police for her death. Police confirmed her death and said an investigation had been opened.

According to the official version, police officers were standing on a corner when they were attacked from various directions. They responded to the attack. There were no reports of other people being injured or arrests during the incident.

“There was no shootout when Ágatha was hit,” said shantytown resident Renata Trajana. “We know the atrocities that are happening here.”

Hundreds of residents shouted “Justice! Justice!”

Many blamed Gov. Wilson Witzel – a far-right ally of President Jair Bolsonaro who has pledged to give police a freer hand in fighting crime – for an increase in deaths during police operations.