Black man dies after being approached by security guards in Salvador

A black man died after being approached by security guards at a bus terminal in Salvador (BA). Edmar Santos, 38 years old, was at the scene and had been involved in a disturbance with 2 men moments before being detained by agents.

The case took place on January 6, 2023, but was highlighted again in the media on Friday (January 19, 2024) after videos of the agents' approach to Edmar began to circulate on social media.

Security camera footage shows the following sequence of events:

• 5h57min – Edmar arrives at the bus station staggering, falls to the ground and gets up with the help of some people;
• 5h58min – a man leaves a cooler on the floor of the bus station;
• 5h59min – Edmar takes the cooler and walks towards a bus;
• 5h59min – another man, who is not the one who left the object on the floor, goes after Edmar;
• 5h59min – Edmar plays the cooler on the ground, he tries to board a bus, but begins to be attacked by the man behind him;
• 5h59min – the man who left the cooler on the ground runs towards the bus
• 5h59min – a man who appears to work at the bus station signals someone and appears to ask for help to contain the situation;
• 6:00 am – Edmar is removed from the bus;
• 6:01 am – Edmar is immobilized on the floor by 2 security guards;
• 6:02 am – some people talk and even seem to argue with the security guards while Edmar is on the floor
• 6:06 am – Edmar appears to be unconscious on the floor;
• 6:10 am – a security guard brings a stretcher
• 6:12 am – Edmar is placed on the stretcher;
• 6:13 am – 3 security guards and 1 unidentified man carry Edmar on a stretcher.

A Bahia Civil Police says investigate the case based on witness reports and camera images. Read the full note below.

O Bahia Metroresponsible for managing the bus station, lamented the man's death and stated that the employees involved in the approach had been removed from their positions until the end of the police investigations.

“The concessionaire informs that it initiated an internal procedure to investigate the events on the morning of January 6, when the company's customer service and security agents were called to act in an incident at the North Access Bus Terminal”wrote in a note (read the full note below).

Read what the Civil Police said:

“The 2nd Homicide Police Station is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Edmar Santos Costa, 38 years old, who was admitted to a health unit, and did not resist, on Saturday (Jan 6, 2024). According to initial investigations, two portions of cocaine were found in the man's clothing pocket. Based on information that he was involved in a fight that was intercepted by subway security agents at the northern access, in Pernambués. Witnesses are being interviewed, security camera images are being analyzed and other investigative steps are being taken to clarify the case. Expert reports will complement the investigations.”

Read what Metrô Bahia said:

“Metrô Bahia regrets the passing of Mr. Edmar Santos Costa and expresses its solidarity with his family and friends. The concessionaire informs that it initiated an internal procedure to investigate the events on the morning of January 6, when the company's customer service and security agents were called to act in an incident at the North Access Bus Terminal.

“Since the incident, the company has collaborated with the authorities in investigating the facts, having provided them with the entire images from its internal cameras, which prove the following facts:

• the passenger entered the terminal staggering and fell to the ground, being helped by other people who were there;
• moments later, he gets involved in a fight with a street vendor inside a bus, and is also attacked by third parties.
• Upon noticing the confusion, the service and security agents went to the scene and contained the passenger, then calling the Military Police and Samu.

“The agents who participated in responding to this incident were removed from their operational duties until the investigations were completed. The concessionaire also clarifies that it invests in a continuous training and training program for its employees, with the main objective of providing a quality service to the population.”