Police in Criciúma, a city in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, shot a man after he assaulted his partner and threatened her with what appeared to be a gun, authorities said.
According to local officials, the man approached his partner wielding a firearm that was later identified as a replica. When officers arrived on the scene, they found the victim in immediate danger and the assailant still brandishing the fake weapon.
Police reported that they fired at the man in order to neutralize the threat and protect the victim, who was not injured in the exchange. The shooter was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Domestic violence remains a serious concern in Brazil, with the country recording one of the highest rates of gender‑based violence in Latin America. Law‑enforcement agencies are frequently called to intervene in such incidents, often under heightened scrutiny over the use of lethal force.
The case is now under investigation by the state public security department to determine whether the police response was proportionate and in line with established protocols.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
