4 suspected gang members killed in gunfight with police in southern Brazil

SAO PAULO, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least four suspected members of a criminal gang were killed Sunday night in a shootout with police in Florianopolis, capital and popular tourism destination in south Brazil's Santa Catarina state, local media reported Monday.

According to a report from the Santa Catarina Military Police, the gunfight resulted in the death of the leader of "First Capital Command," a gang that controls drug trafficking in the Papaquara district in northern Florianopolis.

Police officers received intelligence indicating that the gang leader, considered one of the most dangerous criminals in the region, was hiding in a house in the Ponta das Canas neighborhood.

Upon entering the residence, officers encountered four heavily armed men. The confrontation escalated when one suspect allegedly attempted to grab an officer's rifle.

"Faced with imminent threat and the criminals' superior firepower, the police reacted to neutralize the attack," the Santa Catarina Military Police said on social media.

Five firearms were seized at the scene, including a submachine gun linked to a recent robbery at a gas station in Cacupe, northern Florianopolis.

The Military Police reaffirmed their commitment to combating organized crime and ending impunity in the state. ■