A 21-year-old social media influencer, known as Robertinha, was fatally shot in Coelho Neto, Brazil’s Maranhao state, on May 15. The incident involved two suspects on a motorcycle who opened fire on her before fleeing the scene. Despite attempting to escape, Francisca Roberta de Jesus Silva sustained fatal injuries to her head, back, and legs.
Tragically, this event follows the murder of her partner, Fernando Rocha Alves, in February 2023, where armed assailants ambushed the couple. During that attack, Francisca was also shot in the leg but survived. Subsequently, she relocated to Nova Mutum in Mato Grosso before returning to Coelho Neto with her sister and a friend on May 13.
The case is currently under investigation by the Civil Police in Coelho Neto, with one of the key lines of inquiry focusing on potential connections to gang violence or Fernando’s murder. As of now, no arrests have been made in relation to the incident.
With a social media following of around 11,400 that surged to 12,900 posthumously, Francisca shared comedic content, glimpses of her daily life, and posts featuring her mother. The increase in her followers came after news of her tragic death spread.
In 2025, Brazil reported a national homicide rate of 16 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, a decline from the previous year. The Ministry of Justice and Public Security disclosed that the country saw 34,086 homicides in 2025, marking a decrease from 2024 and continuing a trend of declining murder rates for the fifth consecutive year.
