The donation of organs by environmental engineer Marcelo de Oliveira Rocha, who died after being robbed and attacked while leaving a political event in Santos, on the coast of São Paulo, saved at least four lives, according to his family. To g1, his father said that his son always wanted to do good.
"He was such a good person that he lost his life, but saved four," said his father, Marcelo Rodrigues da Rocha.
The victim participated in a performance by Banda Esquerdantina, in support of the re-election of President Lula (PT) in the early hours of October 24th. He left the event to go to the bathroom, when he was attacked and robbed by at least seven suspects, who went live during the crime (see above). The young man was rescued, but was confirmed brain dead days later.
The family authorized the donation of organs, respecting Marcelo's wishes, who was buried on Wednesday (28), at the Congonhas Cemetery, in Jardim Marajoara, in the South Zone of the capital of São Paulo.
According to the father, the family did not impose restrictions on the organs that would be donated and, therefore, four were considered useful in reducing the transplant queue: pancreas, kidney, liver and corneas.
"It's very moving to know that you did good for four more people despite the world being so cruel. There are so many bad people in this world, but I think the majority are good. [...] Thank God, my son managed to save four more people, four lives", he said.
Marcelo de Oliveira Rocha died at the age of 28, after being attacked — Photo: Reproduction/Social networks
Who was the victim
Marcelo entered the university through the Interdisciplinary Bachelor's Degree in Marine Science and Technology (BICT-Mar) in 2017. The young man graduated in 2021 and, in the same year, entered the university's Environmental Engineering course. He completed his degree in 2023 and, three years later, returned to the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) for his master's degree.
His father, Marcelo Rodrigues da Rocha, said that the family lives in the capital of São Paulo, but his son moved to Baixada Santista to study. At the time, he lived in a rented apartment in Santos.
Marcelo de Oliveira Rocha was studying for a master's degree in Marine Ecology — Photo: Reproduction/Social networks
After training in Engineering, the young man returned to São Paulo, where he began his career. In 2026, he joined Unifesp de Santos again, this time, with a master's degree in the Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Marine and Coastal Ecology. Rocha said that his son divided his routine between the capital and the coast of São Paulo, where he stayed with friends.
Within the family, Marcelo was known for his kindness and joy. “He was a pure person at heart, he had no evil whatsoever,” said his father. He said that his son remained playful and outgoing, regardless of the circumstance. "I could be sad, suffering, but to the world I was always a person", he concluded.
Marcelo de Oliveira Rocha was attacked after walking away from a pro-Lula political event in Santos — Photo: Social networks
Internships
Marcelo's advisor said that the student had plans to do scientific internships in Germany and France, with prospects for international funding.
"For the internship in France, he had already been pre-selected in a financial support notice. Marcelo lived his academic life to its fullest, with enthusiasm, generosity and dedication to science", he stated.
Unifesp suspends classes in mourning for the death of student Marcelo de Oliveira Rocha — Photo: Reproduction and Social Networks
Suspects
In total, eight people were identified by the Civil Police, six teenagers and two adults. One of the adults, identified as responsible for the TikTok account used to broadcast the attacks live, was temporarily detained.
On Tuesday (27), two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, had already been apprehended. A third teenager was apprehended on Wednesday (28).
The older teenager fights boxing and is suspected of having thrown the punch that knocked Marcelo down. He was located in Itariri (SP), after having fled to a grandmother's house.
The Civil Police are working to locate the remaining suspects. For those investigated who have not yet been found, warrants were issued for provisional hospitalization, in the case of teenagers, and temporary arrest, in the case of adults.
According to the São Paulo Public Security Secretariat (SSP-SP), the case is being investigated as a robbery because Marcelo's cell phone and other belongings were taken by the attackers.
Group went live attacking and robbing engineer who walked away from pro-Lula act in Santos, SP — Photo: Reproduction
