These gruesome images show a kindhearted evangelist lying in a pool of blood on the ground after being shot by a suspected gang hitman for trying to help drug dealers give up crime.

Ferreira Marques was shot outside her home in the barrio of Colonia Oliveira Machado in the city of Manaus in the Brazilian state of Amazonas.

A hitman was reportedly lying in wait for the woman to arrive home before appearing from the shadows to blast the woman in the head at close range.

According to the police, it is suspected that she was shot by a local gang for helping young drug addicts in the neighbourhood as well as local criminals to give up a life of crime.

Marques reportedly received numerous death threats from drug gangs over the years, but was undeterred in her mission to help those in need.

She told relatives and neighbours that she was afraid of being attacked by criminals, but wanted to devote as much of her time as possible to helping young people caught up in drugs.

The family tried to convince her to move out of the neighbourhood many times, but to no avail.

The victim’s sister Valdemarina Souza, 71, said: “She lived in the barrio for about 50 years. She grew up here and took care of our 95-year-old mother.

“She always went to communion at church, but it was still very dangerous for her here.

“The only thing I know is that she is now with God and He has already welcomed her.”

She added that her sister was “well known for her social actions, but unfortunately, there are only bad people here” and that “it is a very big loss” for her and the community.

The investigation is ongoing.