RIO JANEIRO – A total of 12 people were wounded, including one who sustained serious wounds, in a New Year’s Eve shooting in the Copacabana district, one of the most famous neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro, minutes before the arrival of the New Year, Agencia Brasil reported Wednesday.

The shooting started when a man who had been arguing with a woman grabbed the firearm of a police officer who had responded to the incident.

The suspect, identified as Adilson Rufino da Silva, 34, grabbed the handgun and opened fire on several police officers.

The officers returned fire, wounding several people, including a police officer, who were nearby.

The shooting occurred between the corner of Avenida Nossa Senhora Copacabana and Republica do Peru street near the site where thousands of people had gathered to ring in the New Year.

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