Pastor forced into his church and shot dead by hooded gunmen, São Leopoldo

On the night of Monday, 12 October 2026, evangelical pastor Claudio Roberto da Silva, 53, was shot dead inside the Igreja Esperança em Jesus Cristo in the Arroio da Manteiga neighborhood of São Leopoldo, in metropolitan Porto Alegre. According to police delegate Ericson Mota, two men approached him near his home and forced him into the church, where one of them fired at him. Witnesses told the Brigada Militar that the two hooded suspects entered the building and opened fire after an argument; the pastor died at the scene and the attackers fled. The São Leopoldo homicide unit (DHPP) is investigating the motive.

Fatal shooting inside a church building. The motive had not been established when reported. Coordinates are the Nominatim pin for the Arroio da Manteiga neighborhood (the church did not resolve), labeled approximate. Also reported by abc+ (https://www.abcmais.com/policia/pastor-e-morto-a-tiros-dentro-de-igreja-em-sao-leopoldo-suspeitos-fugiram-a-pe/).