The Dramatic Capture Of Pennsylvania Killer Danelo Cavalcante
In the immediate aftermath of the manhunt for the dramatic capture of Pennsylvania killer Panelo Cavalcante, a peculiar scene unfolded. Some two dozen law enforcement agents in tactical gear clustered around the fugitive.
Author:Suleman ShahReviewer:Han JuSep 14, 202311K Shares172.7K Views
In the immediate aftermath of the manhunt for the dramatic capture of Pennsylvania killer Panelo Cavalcante, a peculiar scene unfolded. Some two dozen law enforcement agents in tactical gear clustered around the fugitive.
One, holding the leash of a canine, nudged his way to the front. Another knelt with a recovered rifle. A third officer handed off his cellphone to a colleague before joining the group. Then everyone posed for a photo.
The moment was captured on video by a newshelicopter, and criticism swiftly followed on social media. Some observers thought it was not worth memorializing.
Otherssaid it was unnecessary or unfair to use Mr. Cavalcante, who appeared to remain expressionless, as an involuntary prop.
Law Enforcement Responds To Criticism
“„Those men and women work amazingly hard through some very trying circumstances. They’re proud of their work. I’m not bothered at all by the fact that they took a photograph with him in custody.- Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police
Similar questions have surfaced before. In 2021, a photo of white police officers and their dogs in Mississippi posing with a captured Black bank robbery suspect drew widespread criticism.
In 2015, a Chicago officer was fired after a photo surfaced in which he and another officer, both of whom were white, posed with long guns, flanking a Black suspect wearing antlers.
The convicted murderer who escaped a Pennsylvania prison nearly two weeks ago was taken into custody on Wednesday morning, Pennsylvania State Police announced, ending a manhunt that drew hundreds of law enforcement officials to the area and left the surrounding community gripped with fear.
“„Our nightmare is finally over.- Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan
The dramatic capture of Danilo Cavalcante around 8 a.m. Wednesday in Chester County involved an aircraft, a lightning storm, a police dog, and more than 20 tactical officers, authorities said.
A Tumultuous Journey To Capture
At around 1 a.m. Wednesday, an aircraft flying above the search area picked up on a heat signal on the ground, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said in a news conference.
A storm rolled in, and lightning forced the aircraft out, and a tactical team of 20 to 25 officers secured the area and waited out the storm until morning.
Cavalcante was sleeping when police found him, lying on top of a rifle he had stolen from a nearby resident late Monday night.
Officers took Cavalcante by surprise, and he tried to flee by crawling through thick underbrush with the rifle in hand. A police dog was released and bit him, preventing him from using the rifle, and police then took him into custody.
Cavalcante was a “desperate man” during his nearly two weeks on the lam, surviving in part on a watermelon he found at a farm and drinking stream water, Robert Clark, supervisory deputy US marshal for Pennsylvania’s eastern district, said Wednesday.
The capture ended a nearly two-week manhunt that began when Cavalcante, 34, escaped from Chester County Prison in a rural area some 30 miles west of Philadelphia on August 31.
Video of the escape shows him placing his arms on a fence and his legs on a wall and “crab-walking” up to the roof, where he then slipped through razor wire and fled the compound.
Escaped From Justice
He was convicted last month of first-degree murder for the killing of his former girlfriend, 33-year-old Deborah Brandão, and sentenced to lifein prison.
According to prosecutors, Cavalcante stabbed Brandão 38 times in front of her two young children in Pennsylvania in April 2021.
He was arrested several hours after the killing in Virginia, and authorities said he was attempting to flee to Mexico and intended to later head to Brazil, his native country.
Residents in the affected areas received Reverse 911 calls, warning them of the danger and advising people to lock their doors. Some schools and businesses closed due to police activity or simply fear.
Yet on Wednesday, residents got a Reverse 911 call of a different nature.
“„This is a message from Pennsylvania State Police. The search for Danilo Cavalcante is over. The subject is now in custody.- Reverse 911 call sent to area residents Wednesday morning
What Lies Ahead For Cavalcante
Following his capture, Cavalcante was driven to the state police barracks in Avondale, where he was escorted by a handful of police officers.
As of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, he was in the State Correctional Institution - Phoenix – a Pennsylvania state prison located in Montgomery County – where he will serve his mandatory life sentence for first-degree murder, the state’s Department of Corrections confirmed.
In addition to the first-degree murder conviction, Cavalcante has been charged with felony escape, and his bail was denied after his court appearance on Wednesday, according to court records.
The escapee’s sister, Eleni Cavalcante, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is now in the process of being deported after failing to cooperate with the investigation, Bivens said.
The ordeal has left the community relieved and the victim’s family finding closure after enduring a harrowing experience.
Final Words
Cavalcante, a convicted murderer, was captured after an intense search that involved aircraft, tactical officers, and even a police dog.
The use of a controversial photo opportunity during his capture sparked debate on social media, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding such incidents.
Cavalcante's capture brings closure to a community that had been gripped by fear, while the victim's family can now start to heal.
As he faces a mandatory life sentence for his crimes, the chapter of his escape has ended, leaving behind a story of resilience and determination among law enforcement officials.
Suleman Shah
Author
Suleman Shah is a researcher and freelance writer. As a researcher, he has worked with MNS University of Agriculture, Multan (Pakistan) and Texas A & M University (USA). He regularly writes science articles and blogs for science news website immersse.com and open access publishers OA Publishing London and Scientific Times. He loves to keep himself updated on scientific developments and convert these developments into everyday language to update the readers about the developments in the scientific era. His primary research focus is Plant sciences, and he contributed to this field by publishing his research in scientific journals and presenting his work at many Conferences.
Shah graduated from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (Pakistan) and started his professional carrier with Jaffer Agro Services and later with the Agriculture Department of the Government of Pakistan. His research interest compelled and attracted him to proceed with his carrier in Plant sciences research. So, he started his Ph.D. in Soil Science at MNS University of Agriculture Multan (Pakistan). Later, he started working as a visiting scholar with Texas A&M University (USA).
Shah’s experience with big Open Excess publishers like Springers, Frontiers, MDPI, etc., testified to his belief in Open Access as a barrier-removing mechanism between researchers and the readers of their research. Shah believes that Open Access is revolutionizing the publication process and benefitting research in all fields.
Han Ju
Reviewer
Hello! I'm Han Ju, the heart behind World Wide Journals. My life is a unique tapestry woven from the threads of news, spirituality, and science, enriched by melodies from my guitar. Raised amidst tales of the ancient and the arcane, I developed a keen eye for the stories that truly matter. Through my work, I seek to bridge the seen with the unseen, marrying the rigor of science with the depth of spirituality.
Each article at World Wide Journals is a piece of this ongoing quest, blending analysis with personal reflection. Whether exploring quantum frontiers or strumming chords under the stars, my aim is to inspire and provoke thought, inviting you into a world where every discovery is a note in the grand symphony of existence.
Welcome aboard this journey of insight and exploration, where curiosity leads and music guides.
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