A Brazilian man who posted a video of himself burning a Bible online has been found dead from multiple gunshot wounds, authorities confirmed.
Antônio Rocha de Sousa, 47, was discovered on Wednesday, May 14, in Tianguá, a city in the northeastern state of Ceará. Police are treating the death as a homicide.
The killing occurred just 10 days after Antônio posted a video on social media showing himself setting fire to a Bible.
In the footage, he held up the holy book, ignited it with a lighter, and declared, “This here is a Bible, which they say is sacred. Look what it does when faced with fire. It burns.” He went on to say, “God doesn’t exist. This is just a way to enslave and manipulate people… It’s time to wake up.”
Authorities are investigating whether the video played a role in his death, though they are also considering other possibilities, including his criminal history. According to reports, Antônio had a record of intentional bodily harm and was previously under investigation for theft, property damage, and sacrilege related to the Bible-burning video, which was reportedly posted on May 4.
Conflicting reports emerged about the location of his death. While some sources say he was shot in the street, others claim his body was found inside his home, where he lived alone.
A police spokesperson said: “We are looking into all possibilities, including whether this is linked to the recent video or the individual’s past behavior.”
Investigators also suspect that the Bible burned in the video may have been stolen.
Antônio’s social media featured frequent controversial posts and rants, some of which referenced religion. Ironically, one of his final posts before his death included a religious quote, stating: “Follower of Christ… born again in Christ, among the living, who were once dead… after having been tested, tried, and approved by God.”
His case has drawn comparisons to that of Salwan Momika, an Iraqi national who was fatally shot in Södertälje, Sweden, earlier this year after gaining international attention in 2023 for burning copies of the Quran.
