CAMPOS DOS GOYTACAZES, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JULY 21, 2026 Forty-one-year-old lawyer Bárbara Damião Costa was shot inside her car in the Parque Novo Jockey neighborhood. Her former partner Rogério Conceição da Costa is suspected of carrying out the attack, and he was later found dead.
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- Bárbara Damião Costa
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- The couple
According to investigators, the attack occurred in the early evening hours, when Bárbara was inside her Fiat Palio near a local social assistance center. Police are working with the theory that the man committed suicide after the murder.
The case is being handled by the specialized police unit for investigating violence against women (DEAM). Investigators are collecting evidence from the crime scene and the victim’s vehicle and are interviewing witnesses to clarify the exact sequence of events.
Shortly before her death, on Saturday, July 18, Bárbara filed a criminal complaint against her former partner for physical assault. The couple had a seven-year-old son together. The lawyer also requested protective measures intended to increase her safety.
If you’re thinking about suicide, please stop and recognize that your pain is not permanent, but this step would be. It may feel like there’s no other way, but there is hope, even if it’s hard to see right now. Your feelings are temporary, and with help, they can pass.
Talking about what you're going through might feel difficult, but it’s the first step toward healing. Don’t turn away from the people who want to support you. Life can offer more than what you're feeling right now, and the pain doesn't have to last forever. You deserve help, and it’s available.
If you need immediate help, please contact a helpline.
