14 December 2009
Jose Givonaldo Vieira
Shooting
Brazilian radio director, producer and newspaper owner Jose Givonaldo Vieira was killed by unidentified gunmen on 14 December in Bezerros, in northeastern Pernambuco state, in what appeared to be an execution-style murder.
Vieira owned the newspaper Folha do Agreste and hosted a cultural program on Rádio Bezerros FM, a station operated by the paper. He reported regularly on corruption and had told friends days before that he had received death threats and was thinking of moving out of the state.
Three men intercepted Vieira’s car as he arrived for work at the radio station. One approached Vieira and when the journalist rolled down his window to offer assistance, he was shot in the chest and neck. Police suspect the broadcaster was targeted by hired assassins.
