CRICIÚMA, (September 3, 2024) — An approach during a community patrol activity, on Tuesday morning (3), resulted in the death of third sergeant Davi Appel da Silva, 37 years old, in Criciúma (SC). The military police officer was shot several times with his service weapon while identifying and leading a man suspected of causing disturbances near a school.
Appel had served in the Santa Catarina Military Police (PMSC) since 2011. He leaves behind a wife and a daughter.
The governor of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello, and the general commander of the PMSC, Aurélio José Pelozato da Rosa, issued notes of condolence (read the commander's statement below).
“I received with deep sadness the news of the death of one of our military police officers. (…) We will spare no effort to ensure that this crime does not go unpunished and the criminal is duly held accountable,” stated the governor.
The man identified as the author of the shooting was born in Cachoeira do Sul, central region of Rio Grande do Sul, and was arrested after the crime. His name was not disclosed. The Santa Catarina Civil Police is investigating whether the suspect was homeless, as indicated by witnesses to the events.
According to the Criciúma police authorities, the suspect has been in the prison system and his name appears in several police reports of damage, bodily injury, contempt, resistance, disobedience, domestic violence, drug possession and obscene acts.
The investigation is being carried out by the Homicide Department of the Criciúma Criminal Investigations Department, in an investigation under the responsibility of delegate João Westphal.
The investigation indicates that Appel went to the Comerciário neighborhood, where residents and workers reported the presence of a man disturbing the tranquility on Rua Almirante Barroso, in a residential area.
“The aforementioned military police officer allegedly identified a man who repeatedly causes disturbances in the neighborhood, especially with drug use, in the vicinity of the school known as Colegião (Escola de Educação Básica Engenheiro Sebastião Toledo dos Santos)”, points out the police officer’s note.
According to Westphal, Appel approached the suspect and asked him to leave the area. “While monitoring this man, the sergeant ended up being attacked through the window of his own vehicle, at which point he was disarmed by the man”, reports the delegate.
The author fired several shots and threw the weapon on the ground, being detained by residents and workers at a nearby construction site, who called the Military Police.
“The Civil Police found that the author of the facts was a 45-year-old man, born in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, and with several police experience, including having already attacked another military police officer, in April of this year”, he announced. the delegate.
The suspect was arrested red-handed and will be in the custody of Santa Catarina authorities during the investigation.
Note from the general commander of PMSC
It is with deep regret and consternation that the General Command of the Military Police of Santa Catarina (PMSC) expresses its condolences on the death of 3rd Sergeant Davi Appel da Silva, aged 37, who belongs to the 9th Military Police Battalion (Criciúma), when he was murdered by a criminal during a military police approach this Tuesday, 3.
We express our solidarity and heartfelt condolences to the police officer's family, friends and colleagues, recognizing this hero's immeasurable sacrifice and dedication to serving and protecting society. Your courage and commitment to duty will be remembered and honored by us all.
In this moment of mourning and pain, we extend our most sincere sympathies, praising the courage and selflessness of all members of the military police force who daily risk their lives in the noble mission of preserving public order.
May the memory and legacy of the aforementioned military police officer remain an inspiration and example for all of us. And may justice prevail.
