Tests confirmed that Luis Paolo Mota Brentano was drunk at the time of the shooting.
The man who shot and killed Ricardo Dos Santos last week was drunk. While his inebriation was speculated immediately after the shooting, blood alcohol tests were conclusive, showing a 0.13% blood alcohol level. The legal limit for drivers in the area is 0.05%. A state judge for Santa Catarina, where Dos Santos was shot, called the suspect “severely inebriated,” according to Surf Europe.
The shooter, Luis Paolo Mota Brentano, is a military police officer. The blood test was taken more than five hours after Dos Santos was shot, so one can assume that–unless Brentano continued drinking–his blood alcohol level was much higher at the time of the shooting.
Contrary to reports, though, no drugs were found in Brentano’s system, who was off-duty at the time. Dos Santos’ uncle has stated that the shooting occurred after a verbal confrontation over where the officer’s car was parked and not because Dos Santos was attempting to stop Brentano and his younger brother from doing drugs in public. While Brentano is claiming self-defense, the post-mortem confirmed many eye-witness reports that the first shot fired hit Dos Santos in the back as he was walking away. Regardless, Brentano released this statement through his lawyer (translated from Hardcore Magazine):
I would like to publicly address my involvement in the situation with Ricardo Dos Santos. I want to make it known that I sincerely regret what happened. I wish strength and peace to the families and friends of both him and myself in what I am sure is this time of suffering.
However, I acted in legitimate self-defense and in defense of my little brother, whose testimony will be produced in due course. I hope that the facts are not impaired by the social uproar.
I want to make clear that I have cooperated fully with the investigation, submitting myself for examination and reporting everything promptly to my superiors.
Those who know me and have worked with me know that I would never shoot anyone except to defend myself or others. As for those who do not know me, I pray that they exercise caution and prudence when PRE-judging me.
