A former child actor was found shot to death in his vehicle, police in the northeastern Brazilian resort city of Porto Seguro said.
João Rebello, 45, was sitting in his truck when two men arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire Thursday night, witnesses told police.
The gunmen shot Rebello at close range, shot him 12 times and fled the scene.
The Porto Seguro Civil Police did not provide a motive for Rebello’s murder and had not made any arrests as of Friday afternoon.
Former Brazilian child actor João Rebello (left) was shot dead on Thursday in the northeastern resort city of Porto Seguro, police said. The 45-year-old appeared in six soap operas between 1986 and 1997. His sister, María Rebello (right), said the motive for his murder is unknown.
Witnesses told police that two men arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire on João Rebello as he sat in his truck Thursday night. The 45-year-old man was shot 12 times. As of Friday, no arrests had been reported.
The late Brazilian actor and DJ João Rebello was only six years old when he debuted as an actor.
Rebello rose to fame as a child, acting in multiple soap operas that aired on TV Globo.
He was only seven years old when he debuted as ‘Maneco’ in the romantic soap opera Cambalacho (1986), directed by his late uncle Jorge Fernando.
Rebello returned to acting three years later as ‘Juninho’ in the soap opera Bebê a Bordo (Baby on Board).
Directors were pleased with his acting skills, which earned him the role of ‘Sig’ in the 1991 soap opera Vamp.
The actor then played ‘Nicolau’ the following year in the soap opera Deus nos Acoda (God gives us strength). After a five-year hiatus, Rebello returned to play the role of ‘Baby’, a surfer in the soap opera Zazá.
After appearing in several soap operas as a child, João Rebello found his next love later in life as a DJ.
Brazilian actor and DJ João Rebello was executed Thursday night in the tourist city of Porto Seguro.
He moved to England at the age of 18 to study before returning to Brazil several years later and met his future wife, Karine Santana.
Rebello found a career away from acting and worked as a DJ and directing videos.
His family was still searching for answers as they made final arrangements for the funeral.
“We still don’t know what happened,” his sister Maria Rebello said in an Instagram Story video on Friday. “The Bahia police are investigating and we are here giving all the statements.”
Maria asked citizens to refrain from spreading rumors and asked for ‘a little compassion’.
“Please, people, stop saying things you don’t know,” he said. ‘My brother was a person of light. He was an honest guy, he was a discreet guy. Please respect our pain.’