[1][2] A group of police officers entered the Vigário Geral favela (shantytown) in the Baixada Fluminense region of Rio de Janeiro in pursuit of suspected drug traffickers.
It sparked widespread public outrage and led to calls for police reform and greater accountability for law enforcement officials.
The Brazilian government launched an investigation into the Baixada massacre, and several police officers were ultimately convicted and sentenced to prison for their role in the incident.
However, many people in Brazil continue to criticize the government for its handling of the case and for failing to adequately address the issue of police violence in the country.
In August 2006, a military police officer, Carlos Jorge Carvalho, was convicted of 29 homicides, an attempted murder and forming a criminal gang.