Stray bullet kills child in car in Rio de Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO – A 1-year-old boy was killed by a stray bullet that penetrated the car being driven by his father in the Rio de Janeiro suburb of Sao Goncalo on Tuesday, police said.

Police said one of the bullets fired by gunmen following the car pierced the trunk and the back seat, and lodged itself in the head of Juan Rodrigues Morales Benites who died shortly after arriving at a hospital.

Police told reporters the gunmen, who are at large, may have thought the car was being driven by undercover police officers.

Violence is one of several problems facing South America’s first Olympics, which begin in Rio on Aug. 5. Although venues are largely ready, the Zika virus, water pollution and lukewarm tickets sales are worrying organizers.

Last week, soccer great Rivaldo said on his Instagram account that tourists should to stay away from the Olympics because of the danger of endemic violence.