Brazilian couple SURVIVE assassination ambush as gunmen fire assault weapons at armored car

By Adry Torres For Dailymail.com 18:28 14 Jun 2024, updated 18:48 14 Jun 2024

This is the frightening moment a man and his wife escaped a murder hit after gunmen fire more than 40 shots at point blank range in southeastern Brazil.

A surveillance camera outside the 29-year-old victim's home showed him pulling up to the garage when the attackers rammed their vehicle into his armored car.

Two assailants can be seen running out of their SUV and approaching the driver's side of the victim's car and opened fire with a gun and a 12-gauge automatic rifle.

The suspect firing with rifle appeared to run out of ammunition and ran back to their vehicle. However, his accomplice continued to fire and was then joined by the other shooter, who returned with a rifle and unleashed a hail of bullets.

He then turned around and fired at the victim's home.

The suspects attempted to flee in their SUV - which had been reported stolen - and were forced to abandon it when it encountered a mechanical issue and fled into a wooded area.

The victim was rushed to an area hospital and treated for a gunshot wound in the shoulder that was non life-threatening. His wife was not injured.

Rio Grande do Sul Civil Police chief Marcelo told Gasparetto Jornal Informativo online new portal that the victim claimed the assault was sparked by a jailed inmate who was jealous over his wife.

'According to the victim's report, this criminal was transferred to Soledade last year, and since then some crimes have increased, which is actually quite serious,' Gasparetto said. 'Although the victim claims that the motivation was due to interpersonal relationships, involving women, we believe that it is due to drug trafficking.'

However, his reasoning was questioned by investigators, who say the shooting really was the byproduct of a dispute between him and rival drug dealers.

The victim survived a murder plot in 2023 and decided to buy an armored vehicle.

He was also investigated for murder, theft and drug trafficking.

'This is a person who would have reasons to be targeted by the factions. He had already suffered an attempt last year, however, on that occasion, he preferred to abstain and denied the facts, saying that it had only been a threat, which made our work difficult,' Gasparetto said. 

'This time, he collaborated with the Civil Police and informed them who the alleged mastermind was, which is why we believe that last year's incident was involved with this year's incident, and it was probably for the same reasons.'

Authorities were looking into the involvement of four suspects for supplying the weapons.