Brazilian Police Officer Who Became Cop to Catch Father’s Killer Finally Helps Arrest Fugitive 25 Years Later

A dedicated police officer in Brazil has helped bring her father’s killer to justice 25 years after he was murdered over a $25 debt.

Gislayne Silva de Deus, from Roraima, northern Brazil, was just 9 years old when her father, Giraldo Jose Vicente de Deus, was shot point-blank in 1999 by his friend, Raimundo Alves Gomes, during a dispute over a pool game.

Gislayne Silva de Deus, 36, became a homicide police officer in July. Newsflash

Silva, now 36, became a police officer to help solve her father’s murder, a mission that took her decades to complete. Gomes, 60, had been on the run since being convicted of the killing in 2013 but was finally captured last month thanks to Silva’s efforts. She described the emotional moment when she confronted him after the arrest.

“When I saw him at the police station, I made a point of telling him who I was and that I had been responsible for carrying out the arrest warrant,” Silva told local news outlet Nova1. “I burst into tears. It was an explosion of feelings because it seemed like this day would never come.”

Raimundo Alves Gomes was found guilty of the 1999 murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Newsflash

Video footage released by police shows a visibly defeated Gomes at the station, as Silva calmly told him, “It’s because of me that you are here, and you are now going to pay.”

A judge upheld Gomes’ previous conviction, sentencing him to 12 years in prison for the murder. Silva, who was left orphaned along with her five sisters, spoke about the toll the murder had on her family. Her father had tried to pay back the small debt, but Gomes’ violent actions left the family broken.

Silva was just 9 when her father was gunned down. Newsflash

“He left behind five children, and our mothers had to fight hard to raise us,” she said. “This event could have led us down other paths, but our mothers always taught us to follow the right path.”

Gislayne Silva de Deus stares down her father’s killer in jail. Newsflash

Silva hopes her story will inspire others who have suffered from violence to trust in the justice system, urging people to act rightly rather than seek revenge. “Today, I have a son, and I want to teach him that by acting correctly, he can achieve his dreams without stepping on anyone,” she said. “It’s not necessary to act wrongly to achieve justice.”

Giraldo Jose Vicente de Deus (right) was killed in 1999 over a $25 debt. Newsflash

The arrest marks the end of a long, emotional journey for Silva and her family, demonstrating the power of perseverance and belief in justice.

Sola Adeniji

News Reporter, Freelancer, and content creator

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