A would-be motorcycle thief in Brazil who tried to pull off a daring heist at a traffic light was shot by cops seconds later – and the entire incident was caught on the theft victim’s helmet cam.
The dramatic footage, posted online to Live Leak, shows a gloveless rider on a high-performance Honda Hornet tearing down a street and overtaking cars before slowing down at a Sao Paulo intersection. Two men on another bike pull up in front of him at the light – and the man on the back of the bike pulls out a gun.
Hopping off the lead bike, the gunman — later identified as Escarante Leonardo Santos, 35 — brandishes the .38 caliber at the first rider, ordering him off the Honda. The rider hands over the keys to his bike.
As Santo is about to pull away, the helmet cam records a military policeman sprinting across the intersection.
A shout can be heard, and then the policeman fires twice, knocking Santos to the ground. His accomplice speeds off.
Brazilian newspaper Folha reported that Santos was shot in the stomach and leg and rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.
His condition is unknown.
A longer version of the video reportedly shows Santos lying in the street for seven minutes waiting for an ambulance, according to Folha.
Sao Paolo police officials said the military cop was coming home from work, headed the opposite direction, when he saw the robbery in progress.
“Preliminary analysis of the video suggests that the action of the military police was legitimate and correct, with the observance of police technique,” Sao Paolo Civil Police said in a statement.
“[The video] clearly shows that the robber pointed his gun towards the police officer,” the statement said, noting that the actions “demonstrated commitment to public cause, defending society from violent criminals.”