André Leandro de Souza Malta, 29, identified as the author of the murder of military police officer Rafael Rodrigues Novais, was killed in a confrontation with the Military Police (PM) on the afternoon of Thursday (6/2), on Rua Milton Jansen de Faria, Jardim Paulistano, north of São Paulo. The incident occurred just five hours after the brutal murder of Rafael
André, who was Rafael's former neighbor and childhood friend, allegedly reacted to the police officers' approach, resulting in an exchange of gunfire in which he was fatally hit. According to the police report, the motive for the crime was linked to a trivial dispute: André had broken the rearview mirror of Rafael's car during an argument about noise. In a tragic turn of events, André allegedly used the promise of compensating the damage as a pretext to ambush and murder Rafael, who was also known as a digital influencer. The Jardim Paulistano community and Rafael's followers on social media are still in shock at how quickly the situation unfolded. The police officer's death was captured on security cameras, showing the moment he greeted André, without realizing that this would be their last meeting
The PM announced that André was being actively sought after Rafael's murder. When located, around 2:30 p.m., he was armed, which led to an exchange of gunfire with the officers who approached him. This confrontation resulted in André's death, ending a manhunt that lasted only a few hours but left deep scars on the community. The tragedy raises several questions about the safety of off-duty police officers, the speed and effectiveness of the police response, and shows how minor conflicts can escalate into extreme violence. The police continue to investigate the details of the case, but the official narrative points to an abrupt end for both parties involved, marking a day of mourning and reflection for the force and for the residents of the region.
