A Portuguese man living in the US has been arrested and is facing a life-long jail sentence after fatally shooting a man who allegedly was dating his ex-girlfriend and was sitting next to her in a pizzeria in New Jersey on Wednesday.
Miguel Leal da Câmara, originally from the Azores, is accused of murdering Marco Moreira, a 45-year-old Brazilian man, and trying to shoot his ex-girlfriend afterwards.
According to a prepared statement from Christopher Swendeman, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, Câmara “walked into the restaurant and approached a table where the victim was seated with Câmara's ex-girlfriend and several members of her family, in violation of an existing restraining order”.
“Câmara then fired at Moreira, striking him in the head. A struggle then ensued between Câmara, other members of Moreira's party, and another restaurant patron,” the statement reads.
“During that struggle, Câmara attempted to kill his former girlfriend, but was unsuccessful in doing so, and she was uninjured.”
A witness was able to request help from a passing Long Branch police officer, who joined the people who were trying to disarm the man.
“As the officer tried to apprehend Câmara, he attempted to grab the officer's firearm but was unsuccessful in doing so. Other officers quickly arrived, and Câmara was taken into custody without further incident.”
According to Correio da Manhã, Câmara was in the US illegally after his residency permit had expired.
The incident happened at the Bom de Mais restaurant in Long Branch, New Jersey, a beachside city with a strong Portuguese and Brazilian community.
Written by michael.bruxo@algarveresident.com
Article by kind permission of http://portugalresident.com
