Mexican tourist dies after falling off the hood of a car while trying to stop thieves from escaping in Rio

Mexican tourist Carlos Hernandez Ortiz died this Tuesday (29) after falling from a getaway car, after being robbed in Pedra do Sal, in Rio.

The Civil Police investigate the crime as robbery. Driver Guilherme do Nascimento Pinto was arrested in the act, while 2 other accomplices fled.

The driver reported that the gang used hugs to simulate getting closer and stealing belongings. Security images captured the action against the victim.

Guilherme confessed to participating and said he received R$500 per share. The police asked for the driver's arrest to be converted into preventative arrest.

Mexican tourist Carlos Hernandez Ortiz died after being robbed and trying to prevent the criminals from escaping in the Pedra do Sal region, in the center of Rio, in the early hours of this Tuesday (29).

According to the Civil Police, he jumped on the hood of the car used by the robbers, but fell when the vehicle accelerated, hit his head on the ground and died.

The police are investigating the case as a robbery, which is robbery followed by death.

According to information from the Capital Homicide Police Station (DHC), a man was arrested and identified as Guilherme do Nascimento Pinto. The investigation indicates that he would have taken two accomplices to the Pedra do Sal region at around 2 am.

According to the police, the pair got out of the vehicle near Praça Mauá and approached three victims, who appeared to be drunk.

In testimony, according to the Civil Police, Guilherme reported that the group used a strategy to get closer to the victims. The criminals hugged them and simulated a friendly approach and then stole their belongings.

Dynamics of the approach — Photo: Reproduction

A Federal Police security camera caught the dynamic and it is possible to see the moment in which they hug Carlos.

Still according to the interrogation, after the cell phones were stolen, one of the victims jumped on the hood of the car used by the group. One of the accomplices allegedly ordered the driver to speed up. Guilherme said he obeyed the order, causing the victim to fall to the ground.

The tourist was taken to Souza Aguiar Hospital, but did not resist.

Victim tried to prevent escape by climbing on the hood of the car — Photo: Reproduction

At around 5am, the three men were approached by the Federal Police, but two of them managed to escape. The driver was arrested red-handed driving the car used in the crime.

During interrogation, according to the Civil Police, Guilherme confessed to participating in the crime. He also stated that he had already participated in five or six other similar robberies and that he received around R$500 for each action.

According to the testimony, the group stole around eight or nine cell phones a day.

The Civil Police asked the Court to convert the arrest into preventative arrest. The search for the other two bandits continues.