A family in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is mourning the loss of a beautiful mom of two. Thamires Rodrigues de Souza Peixoto was riding in the back of a ride-share car when she was suddenly hit by a bullet not intended for her. In reality, she was apparently the victim of road rage gone way too far, but the person who killed her was actually a police officer. The mom was killed as she was on her way to prepare for a Mother’s Day event, just days before her younger child’s birthday. Now, instead of celebrating her daughter and being celebrated for being a mother, her family had to lay her to rest.
She was a victim of a senseless crime.
The 28-year-old mom was a passenger in a ride-share vehicle when she was shot on May 7, 2026, according to a statement from the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State, as reported by People. The ride-share driver told police someone in another car fired a gun at the car and hit Peixoto before leaving the scene.
According to CNN Brazil, the driver had gotten into an argument with another driver while Peixoto was in the car. After the argument, a civil police officer reportedly fired a shot at the ride-share vehicle. It went through the rear glass, hitting the mom in the back.
The entire thing was caught on security footage, CNN Brazil reported. In the video, the black ride-share car can be seen maneuvering into traffic when a white vehicle, which investigators have identified as the police officer’s car, approaches.
The driver took Peixoto to the hospital, but sadly, she didn’t survive her injuries.
Brazilian outlet G1 identified the police officer as Frede Uilson Souza de Jesus. He turned himself in at a police station and was arrested on May 8. The Civil Police Corregedoria reported that de Jesus has been relieved of his duties, and an internal investigation has begun.
CNN Brazil noted that de Jesus had been arrested previously on charges related to falsifying documents.
Peixoto was on her way to the beauty salon in preparation for a Mother’s Day event at her daughters’ school, according to CNN Brazil. Because of her death, the event was canceled.
“It is with deep regret that we inform you that our school received the sad news today of the passing of the mother of two of our students,” Colégio Interativo GPI shared in a statement obtained by local news outlet O Globo. “In this moment of grief and out of respect for the family, we believe the most sensitive and appropriate course of action is to postpone our Mother’s Day celebration.”
Peixoto is survived by her husband and daughters.
The funeral for Peixoto was held on May 9, the same day her younger daughter turned 4 years old.
“We talked, we explained the way we gave that she wouldn’t be at the party, that she had turned into a little star and that now she was asleep. And they said goodbye to their mother,” her friend, Thaynara Costa told G1.
Peixoto’s cousin, Samara Luana, called her the “pillar of the family.”
“Thamires was always a friend, she was always a companion, she was that friend. I was living the best phase of her life,” she said.
As Peixoto’s mother arrived at the cemetery, she could be heard crying “What will become of me without my daughter? What will become of my granddaughters?”
