From The Rio Times · Arkady Petrov · · 2m
Rio Archaeologist Shot in Leblon Robbery
Rio archaeologist Tania Andrade Lima, 81, shot during Leblon robbery; suspects fled on motorcycle.
In brief
Rio archaeologist Tania Andrade Lima, 81, shot during Leblon robbery; suspects fled on motorcycle. Rio archaeologist Tania Andrade Lima survived a street robbery in Leblon where she was shot, with two suspects fleeing on a motorcycle. Originally reported by The Rio Times.
Who was shot
Tania Andrade Lima, 81, a retired archaeologist at Rio's Museu Nacional, was shot during a street robbery in Leblon on Thursday, 15 October.
Where and when
The attack occurred on Rua General Venancio Flores in Leblon, Rio de Janeiro's South Zone, on Thursday afternoon, 15 October.
Why it matters
Valongo Wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage site where 900,000 enslaved Africans arrived in South America, was uncovered by Lima in 2011.
What happened
Security footage shows a man pulling at her bag as she lay on the sidewalk and shooting her during the robbery.
Injuries and condition
Accounts differ: Metrópoles report a gunshot to the hand, while SBT News and Estadão say three shots hit her.
Suspects fled
Two suspects fled on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice after the attack, leaving stolen items behind.
Police search
Military police spotted the suspects in the Rebouças Tunnel but they fled on foot, abandoning a stolen motorcycle and two phones.
Her background
Lima led the 2011 excavation that uncovered Valongo Wharf, a site buried since 1843, and received the Hypatia Award in 2023.
Why Valongo matters
UNESCO inscribed Valongo Wharf as a World Heritage site in 2017, noting it was the most significant landing point for enslaved Africans in the Americas.
US travel advice
The US State Department rates Brazil Level 2, advising visitors to hand over belongings without resisting if confronted.
What comes next
Civil Police will analyze the motorcycle, phones, and security footage; no arrests or court dates have been announced.
What is known
Lima survived the attack, but no outlet names the gunman or his accomplice, and the exact time of the shooting is unknown.
Here's the gist
Rio archaeologist Tania Andrade Lima survived a street robbery in Leblon where she was shot, with two suspects fleeing on a motorcycle.
