The Polícia Judiciária (PJ) has arrested the main suspect in the murder of Manuel Gonçalves, a 19-year-old who was killed after reporting the adulteration of drinks at the ‘Bar Académico’ in Braga.
The arrest was confirmed by a statement from the PJ, which details the operation. “Through continuous efforts, the PJ was able to identify, locate, and detain the attacker, who had been in hiding and preparing to flee the country,” the statement read.
Authorities reported that the suspect is 27 years old.
The statement further noted that “due to still unclear motives, individuals from two distinct groups were expelled from the establishment after a verbal altercation,” after which the young man was stabbed.
The detainee is expected to appear before judicial authorities at the Vila Nova de Famalicão Braga Court for an initial judicial hearing and to determine precautionary measures.
It is important to note that, beginning with a report of adulteration of alcoholic drinks at the location. It has been reported that Manuel Gonçalves exposed a group attempting to add drugs to the drinks of several young women.
The victim, a senior high school student, alerted security about the situation, after which he was attacked following the expulsion of the now-detainee and his group of friends. The confrontation escalated outside, where the victim was repeatedly stabbed by an individual who then fled to an unknown location.
Though Manuel Gonçalves was rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
The chain of events began Saturday with the death of Manuel Gonçalves, who had been stabbed outside the venue. By the early morning hours of Wednesday, the ‘Bar Académico’ was subjected to a molotov cocktail attack.
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Following this incident, the Public Prosecutor’s Office into the homicide. The ‘Bar Académico’ was subsequently set on fire the day after the altercation and has since closed indefinitely.
[Updated at 12:54]
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