The Candelária Massacre

Late on the night of July 23, 1993, gunmen in two vehicles opened fire on a group of young people, many of them homeless children, sleeping near the Candelária Church in downtown Rio de Janeiro. Eight of them, aged 11 to 19, were killed.

Investigation

A survivor's testimony helped identify several off-duty military police officers among the attackers. The case drew significant international attention and pressure on Brazilian authorities to prosecute those responsible.

Trials

Of the men charged, several were convicted, with sentences reaching 200 to 300 years, while others were acquitted for lack of evidence. Under Brazil's sentencing rules at the time, none served anywhere near the full terms handed down.

Legacy

The Candelária massacre became a widely cited symbol of police violence against street children and the poor in Brazil. All of the convicted offenders have since been released. One survivor of the massacre, Sandro Barbosa do Nascimento, later became known for an unrelated 2000 bus hijacking in Rio de Janeiro.