The health condition of American tourist Joseph T. Thomas, 28, who was wounded in the neck during a shootout between militiamen and drug dealers in Morro do Fubá, in Cascadura, in the north of Rio, remains serious.
He was transferred early this morning (11) from Hospital Municipal Salgado Filho, in Méier, north of Rio, to Hospital Samaritano de Botafogo, in the south of the city. According to the unit, which belongs to the private network, the young man is hospitalized at the Intensive Care Center (ICU).
“Hospital Samaritano Botafogo informs that the American tourist Joseph T.Thomas, transferred from a public unit, during the night of yesterday (10/8), is hospitalized in the Intensive Care Center (ICU) of the institution. The patient’s health condition is serious,” he said in a statement.
The American tourist was inside a friend’s apartment, where he is staying on vacation, when he was shot last Tuesday (9).
In reply to Brazil Agency, the US consulate said it could not provide information about the young person’s care. “The US Embassy and Consulates are aware of articles published in the media about US citizens who are victims of violence in Rio de Janeiro. Due to privacy law, we are unable to comment on the case.”
According to the Secretary of State for the Military Police of Rio, still as a result of the shooting, a man was found dead by teams of the 9th Battalion of the Military Police (BPM), on Tuesday, on Rua Padre Telêmaco, also in Cascadura. In addition to Thomas, two passengers from a bus that was passing by in the community were also hit and taken to the Salgado Filho Hospital. The case is under investigation by the Rio Homicide Police Department.
