[7] On 20 December 1986, a heated argument took place between Sudin Bhagvanta Naique, a businessman and son of a prominent industrialist from Comba, and Vaz, who was his ex-employee.

[8] At 1:20 pm, Rajaram G. Pawar,[9] a head constable of the Gujarat State Reserve (SRP), at the behest of Naique, shot Vaz, aged 23 with a 303 rifle near his residence at Gogol.

This declaration sparked a riot in Margao, with people claiming that the news was connected to the Konkani language agitation, making it an obvious act.

He also noticed a Fiat car, possibly the Premier Padmini driven by Naique, parked besides the SRP van.

[9] Hours after Vaz's death, the Margao police station issued two official versions describing the incident.

Messias reported that Vaz's body bore 15 marks caused by a dull weapon, probably a police lathi.

The prevailing night of Vaz's death, a fishing net factory owned by the Naique family was set on fire.

The next day, Bhagvanta Naique offered MLAs, Uday Bhembre and Luizinho Faleiro a sum of amount ₹20,000 (equivalent to ₹270,000 or US$3,100 in 2023) as compensation to the Vaz family.

The same evening, another fishing net factory the family owned was destroyed, which forced the Naiques to stay at home.

[9] On 16 September 2012, Vaz's bust was vandalized by unknown individuals, the Dalgado Konknni Akademi expressed their shock and distress over the matter and asked the state government to take strict action on those who were responsible and rebuild the sculpture as fast as possible.

[17] On 21 December 2015, at Vaz's 29th death anniversary, his brother, several well wishers and relatives paid floral tributes to the bust at Gogol traffic junction.