A Homeless Man Died Saving A Hostage And Is Now A National Hero

On Friday, Luiz Antonio da Silva entered São Paulo Cathedral in Brazil and took clerk Elenilza Mariana de Oliveira hostage.

Speaking to local media, de Oliveira said that she was praying inside the cathedral when she was first approached by da Silva.

He then held her at gunpoint on the steps of the cathedral. Da Silva was known to local police and had served time for a series of serious offenses.

However, the hostage situation was interrupted when 61-year-old Erasmo Francisco Rodrigues de Lima, a local homeless man, decided to intervene.

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Rodrigues de Lima tackled da Silva to the ground, allowing the hostage to escape and the police to shoot the hostage taker.

During the struggle, Rodrigues de Lima was shot by da Silva and died on the steps of the cathedral. Da Silva was also killed by police.

When asked about Rodrigues de Lima, de Oliveira said, “It was a heroic act…he gave his life for me.”