Lázaro Barbosa de Sousa became one of the most widely known criminal figures in Brazil in 2021 after a major manhunt across the Federal District and Goiás. The operation began after a series of violent incidents in the region and eventually mobilized hundreds of law-enforcement personnel. According to the Goiás Civil Police, the search lasted more than 20 days and involved approximately 270 security agents from different institutions. During the operation, authorities investigated Barbosa in connection with several serious offenses, while official reports also noted that he had a previous homicide conviction in Bahia.
The case gained national attention as Barbosa moved through rural areas around Cocalzinho de Goiás and Águas Lindas de Goiás, while police teams, helicopters, tracking dogs and intelligence units searched for him. The Federal Highway Police also established road barriers as authorities attempted to prevent his escape from the region.
On June 28, 2021, authorities located Barbosa in Águas Lindas de Goiás. According to official accounts, a confrontation occurred during the attempt to capture him, and he was shot. He was taken toward a hospital but died before receiving further treatment. His death brought the 20-day manhunt to an end.
The circumstances surrounding his death later became the subject of additional scrutiny. In 2025, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Goiás reopened an investigation into the conduct of police officers involved in the shooting. In March 2026, reports stated that the related investigation was subsequently archived by the Goiás judiciary without a criminal conclusion against the officers.
Lázaro Barbosa’s case remains one of the most extensively covered police manhunts in recent Brazilian history. His name became nationally recognized because of the scale of the search, the number of agencies involved and the intense media coverage surrounding the events of June 2021.
SOURCES
Agência Brasil
Agência Brasil — Lázaro Barbosa killed after 20-day search
Goiás Civil Police
Polícia Civil de Goiás — Operation and search for Lázaro Barbosa
Federal Highway Police
PRF — Road barriers during the search
Metrópoles — 2026
Metrópoles — Investigation into Lázaro Barbosa's death
CNN Brasil
CNN Brasil — The 20-day manhunt
