Cascade, in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, has once again appeared at the top of a ranking that exposes the routine of armed violence in the city. According to data from the Crossfire Institute, the neighborhood has the highest number of shootings in 2026 in the entire metropolitan area: there have already been 18 incidents this year, with seven people shot.
The data gained even more weight after the death of 61-year-old doctor Andréa Marins Dias, who was shot on Sunday (15) while driving in the area. It is suspected that her car was mistaken for that of criminals during a police chase. The case caused outrage and put Cascade back in the center of the debate about public security and the risk for residents and drivers who circulate in the area.
The mark of 18 shootings keeps the neighborhood in the lead in Greater Rio in 2026. The scenario repeats what had already been recorded last year. In the annual report of 2025, Crossfire pointed out Cascade as the most affected neighborhood by armed violence in the metropolitan area, with 126 shootings throughout the year.
The numbers show that the problem is far from isolated. In 2026, Greater Rio already has 446 shootings, with 281 people shot. Of this total, 201 incidents occurred in police actions, responsible for 45% of the records and for 190 victims, equivalent to 68% of those shot in the period.
Another data that draws attention is the number of chases that end in gunfire. Only this year, 22 police chases resulted in shootings in the metropolitan area. In total, 16 people were shot in these approaches.
The death of Andréa Marins Dias ended up condensing, in a brutal way, what the numbers had already been showing. In neighborhoods like Cascade, the risk is not restricted to those directly involved in confrontations. It crosses the routine of those who leave home, drive through a common street, or simply try to go on with their day.
Portuguese 
English 