14 DAY TRIAL // Last Friday, a homeless man was shot dead on the steps of Brazil's São Paulo Cathedral when he turned against a gunman in an attempt to save a woman who was held hostage.
The 61-year-old man, named Erasma Francisco Rodrigues the Lima, threw himself at the gunman, 49-year-old Luiz Antonio da Silva, and managed to push him away from the woman.
The gunman fought back and shot him in the chest several times. With the woman out of the way, police officers opened fire and shot at the gunman themselves, fatally injuring him.
The gunshots that hit him before authorities had the chance to intervene, however, killed the 61-year-old. He collapsed to the ground just moments after fighting off the gunman.
Word has it the incident was a robbery gone wrong
Authorities have not yet released a report detailing the incident, but word has it the entire affair was just a robbery gone wrong, IBT reports.
Witnesses say 49-year-old Luiz Antonio da Silva took the woman hostage and dragged her out of the São Paulo Cathedral at gunpoint. A hardened criminal who had already served time in prison, he likely wanted to rob her.
When the woman refused to give him any money, he started threatening her. At one point, he forced her onto the ground. It was at this point that the homeless man intervened and turned against the gunman.
He was shot in his chest and, shortly after, died at the scene. While he was fighting the gunman, however, the woman managed to escape and ran to safety.
When he came out of the São Paulo Cathedral, the criminal, previously imprisoned for robbery, drug trafficking and assault, also fired his weapon at a passer-by who noticed what was happening, killing him on the spot.
61-year-old Erasma Francisco Rodrigues the Lima is now hailed as a hero as many agree that, had it not been for him and his bravery, Luiz Antonio da Silva would have probably killed the woman.
