A man identified as the leader of the massacre in the Tremembé settlement confessed to participating in the crime, but not in the murders; Ítalo Rodrigues da Silva is on the run
The São Paulo Court ordered this Sunday (12) the temporary arrest of Antônio Martins dos Santos Filho, known as “Nero do Piseiro”, suspected of leading the attack on the Olga Benário settlement, of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), in Tremembé, in the interior of São Paulo. In the episode, which occurred last Friday night (10), two people died and six were injured.
Antônio, identified as the intellectual mastermind of the attack, was arrested on Saturday (11) after being recognized by witnesses. He confessed to having participated in the action, but denied involvement in the deaths. The court ordered his temporary arrest for 30 days, with the possibility of extension. According to the Civil Police, the crime was motivated by a disagreement over the negotiation of land in the settlement, which has been regularized by Incra for almost 20 years and is home to 45 families.
A second suspect, Ítalo Rodrigues da Silva, was temporarily detained, but is on the run. The police continue to search for Silva and others involved. Firearms and bladed weapons, as well as a vehicle used in the crime, were seized and will undergo forensic examination. The attack occurred at night, when armed men arrived at the scene in cars and motorcycles and began shooting. According to witnesses, the criminals did not hide their faces, making them easier to identify.
The fatal victims were Valdir do Nascimento de Jesus, aged 52, and Gleison Barbosa de Carvalho, aged 28. Valdir was prominent in the movement and was killed with several shots to the head. The injured include three men and three women, aged between 18 and 49, some in serious condition, such as Denis Carvalho, Gleison’s brother, who is in an induced coma.
The case is being investigated by the Specialized Criminal Investigations Police Station (Deic) of Taubaté. The Ministry of Justice and Public Security ordered the Federal Police to open an investigation to investigate the facts. Ministers Paulo Teixeira (Social and Agrarian Development) and Macaé Evaristo (Human Rights) participated in the wake of the victims this Sunday (12). The Ministry of Agrarian Development and the Ministry of Human Rights issued statements repudiating the attack and calling for the strengthening of protection policies for human rights defenders.
The Olga Benário settlement has been authorized by Incra (National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform) since 2005. The MST reported that the place has around 45 families and that the attack occurred in the context of an internal dispute over the occupation and regularization of a batch. The Military Police have reinforced patrolling in the area to avoid further conflicts while investigations continue.
*Report produced with the help of AI
