NewsWorld newsGun crimeFrancisca Roberta de Jesus Silva, 21, was shot dead in north-east Brazil three years after her partner, Fernando Rocha Alves, met the same fate, with police now investigating whether the two murders are linked11:29, 20 May 2026Updated 11:39, 20 May 2026A 21-year-old influencer has been shot dead - three years after her partner was murdered in a similar attack.‌Francisca Roberta de Jesus Silva, known on social media as Robertinha, was killed in the street in Coelho Neto, in Brazil's northeastern state of Maranhao, on May 15. According to Civil Police, two suspects on a motorbike fired shots before fleeing the scene. Francisca tried to escape but was shot in the head, back and legs, authorities said.‌Her tragic death comes after her partner, Fernando Rocha Alves, was killed in February 2023 when the couple were ambushed by armed men. Francisca was also shot twice in the right leg during that attack but survived, local outlet O Imparcial reports. She later moved to Nova Mutum in the central-western state of Mato Grosso before returning to Coelho Neto on May 13, accompanied by her sister and a friend.‌The Civil Police, through the Coelho Neto Police Station, is investigating the case. One of the main lines of inquiry is whether the killing is linked to gang violence or to the murder of Fernando, local outlets report. No arrests have been made so far.Article continues belowFrancisca had around 11,400 followers on social media - a number that rose to 12,900 after news of her death spread, according to O Imparcial. She shared comedy sketches, snippets of her daily life and posts featuring her mother.Brazil recorded a national rate of 16 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025, according to G1. There were 34,086 homicides in the country in 2025, down from 38,374 in 2024, according to figures released by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. The country has recorded a drop in murders for the fifth consecutive year.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌BrazilGun crime