A married father of three including a young baby who complained about the spiralling price of meat was beaten to death by his local butcher after he left the store without buying anything.
Street food vendor Wagner de Oliveira Lovato, 40, died of a head injury on Sunday, 3rd October, after he was beaten by two men including the manager of the store on the previous day.
The crime took place after he expressed his frustration with the inflated prices in the butcher’s shop in the city of Alvorada in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
CCTV footage shows how he stepped outside without buying anything, apparently sparking an altercation with the off-duty store manager, who followed him outside demanding to know why.
Another man, whose presence at the scene was not explained, was also involved in the altercation. According to reports, the two attackers were drunk at the time.
The footage shows one of the suspects punching the victim to the pavement, with the other suspect then kicking him in the head as he lies motionless on the ground.
The victim was taken to hospital, where he later died from his injuries, and the suspects were arrested.
The police say that nothing so far indicates any bad blood between the victim and his attackers. However, officers hope to question his family to find out if he had fallen out with anyone.
The store has since released a statement reading: “We, from ‘Shopping das Carnes’, deeply regret the death of Wagner de Oliveira Lovato, confirmed yesterday, 3rd October.
“We are taking all possible measures to assist the authorities in ascertaining the responsibility for this criminal act outside the establishment in Alvorada.
“The employee involved in this unacceptable episode, who was not working at the time of the crime, has been removed by the company and is in police custody.
“Since the event, we have been seeking contact with the victim’s family to provide the necessary support.
“We understand the family’s pain and reservations and respect their time. We are available for this dialogue to take place.
“Out of respect for Wagner de Oliveira Lovato and his family, the store will be closed this Monday, 4th October.”
The suspects remain in preventive custody as the investigation continues.
