Civil Police Concludes Military Officers Acted in Self-Defense in Death of 4-Year-Old Ryan da Silva Andrade Santos

Civil Police Concludes Self-Defense in Fatal Shootout

The Civil Police in Brazil has concluded that military police officers acted in legitimate self-defense during a shootout that led to the deaths of 4-year-old Ryan da Silva Andrade Santos and 17-year-old Gregory Ribeiro Vasconcelos. The final investigation report, delivered to the Justice system on February 3, 2026, states that the officers could not have foreseen that the child would be struck by a stray bullet.

Details of the Tragic Incident

The incident occurred on the night of November 5, 2024, in the Morro São Bento neighborhood of Santos, São Paulo. Ryan da Silva Andrade Santos was reportedly playing on the street when he was hit by a stray bullet during a confrontation between military police and two teenagers on a motorcycle. Gregory Ribeiro Vasconcelos, one of the teenagers, also died in the exchange of fire. The confrontation began when military police officers from ROCAM (Rondas Ostensivas com Apoio de Motocicleta) spotted two teenagers on a motorcycle without helmets. During the pursuit, the teenagers allegedly fired at the police, who then returned fire. Seven military police officers were involved in the action.

Investigation Findings and Official Stance

The Civil Police's final report, overseen by delegate Thiago Nemi Bonametti, concluded that no security agents would be indicted. A forensic report from the Institute of Criminalistics of São Paulo confirmed that the shot that killed Ryan originated from a 12-gauge shotgun fired by Cabo Clovis Damasceno de Carvalho Junior, a military police officer. The report indicated that the projectile ricocheted off a hard surface, such as a pole, wall, or asphalt, before hitting the child in the abdomen. The Military Police had previously concluded their internal inquiry and were awaiting a decision from the Military Justice Court of the State of São Paulo.

Community Reactions and Broader Concerns

The death of Ryan da Silva Andrade Santos sparked significant public outcry and calls for justice. His mother, Beatriz da Silva Rosa, expressed profound grief and stated that no government official had contacted her, emphasizing her desire for accountability. Human rights organization Conectas sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations on November 18, 2024, requesting international action to investigate the killings and highlighting concerns about increasing police lethality in the region, particularly affecting Black and disenfranchised communities. The local community has also disputed the police's claim of armed resistance. Notably, Ryan's father, Leonel Andrade Santos, was also killed in a police operation in the same region in February 2024.