[2] In 1954 he served in the Directorate of Air Routes, in Rio de Janeiro, when the opposition to the 2nd government of Getúlio Vargas intensified.

The shots fired wounded Carlos Lacerda's foot and killed Major Rubens Vaz.

[2][3] The subsequent investigation indicated as the mastermind of the crime the head of the personal security of the then President of the Republic, Getúlio Vargas, Gregório Fortunato, nicknamed "The Black Angel".

On the day of the crime, August 5, the protection of Carlos Lacerda was supposed to be done by Major Gustavo Borges, but due to the need to make a flight to complete the hours determined for the aviators, Major Vaz replaced him that night, doing his colleague a favor.

[2] Nineteen days after the shooting, on August 24, 1954, Getúlio Vargas committed suicide.