A Colombian diplomatic official was injured by a stray bullet during an attempted robbery in Sao Paulo. The Vice Consul, Claudia Ortiz Vaca, was caught in the crossfire while passing through the central area of the city, where an off-duty officer confronted two suspects trying to rob a vehicle.
It’s unclear whether the bullet that injured Ortiz Vaca came from the officer’s firearm or from one of the suspects at the scene. She was promptly taken to a hospital to undergo surgery, and her condition was reported to be stable, as confirmed by the Colombian Consulate in Sao Paulo.
Following the incident, authorities managed to arrest one of the suspects, while the other fled the scene. An investigation is underway to determine the sequence of events that led to the shooting.
Violent crime is a persistent issue in Brazilian cities, and occasionally foreigners end up as victims of such incidents. In December of last year, an Argentine tourist was shot in Rio de Janeiro after accidentally driving into a poor neighborhood while heading to the Christ the Redeemer statue. He was treated at a local hospital for his injuries.
