Rio de Janeiro.- A tourist from the Dominican Republic is in “stable” condition in a Rio de Janeiro hospital after being shot on Wednesday in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, in the western part of the Brazilian city, official sources reported.
The victim, identified as Johan Lapaix, 33, was walking along an avenue when he was assaulted by suspects and wounded “by gunshot,” according to the Military Police.
Brazilian authorities rescued him and transferred him to the Lourenço Jorge Municipal Hospital, where he remains in a “stable” condition, according to the Rio Health Department.
Police said in a statement that they have reinforced the presence of officers in the region, while they analyze the images from security cameras and take statements from witnesses to clarify the incident.
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“The Tourist Areas Police Battalion is following up on the case and providing assistance to the victim,” the report added.
In Rio, Brazil’s most touristic city, drug trafficking gangs and paramilitary groups, made up of corrupt agents or ex-agents, operate. They control various neighborhoods in the city, where they sell drugs and weapons, and even charge for basic services.
However, Rio is not currently among the most violent cities in Brazil and is, in fact, one of the regional capitals in the country with the lowest estimated homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants, at 21.3, according to the latest official data released for 2022.
