TABULEIRO DO NORTE, CEARÁ, BRAZIL – DECEMBER 26, 2024 57-year-old Marcos Aurélio de Araújo, chairman of the city council and a member of the Progressive Party (PP), was murdered.
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- Marcos Aurélio de Araújo 1
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- Marcos Aurélio de Araújo 2
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- Marcos Aurélio de Araújo 3
The incident occurred in the evening while Araújo was sitting on the porch of his house with his 75-year-old mother-in-law and another woman. Two armed men arrived on a motorcycle, approached them, and fired at least nine shots. Araújo died at the scene, while his mother-in-law sustained two gunshot wounds and was taken to the hospital. The other woman managed to escape unharmed.
Marcos Aurélio de Araújo was an experienced politician recently elected for his fourth term, having received the highest number of votes in the city. He was expected to continue serving as chairman of the city council for the 2025–2027 term.
Following the attack, security forces launched an intensive search for the perpetrators. On December 29, 2024, two main suspects, identified on surveillance footage, were located by police in Fortaleza. During an attempt to arrest them, a confrontation ensued, resulting in the deaths of both suspects—a 16-year-old with a criminal record and a 20-year-old man. Two other suspects were apprehended: one in Russas, allegedly helping the attackers escape, and another in Tabuleiro do Norte, in possession of a weapon believed to have been used in the crime.
The city of Tabuleiro do Norte declared three days of mourning to honor the late politician. The investigation, led by the Municipal Police in Tabuleiro do Norte, continues to uncover motives and additional details surrounding this tragic act.
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of violence against public officials in the region. Over the past decade, Tabuleiro do Norte has witnessed the murders of three city secretaries in addition to Araújo, raising concerns about security and political stability in the city.
