Shocking security footage captures a customer casually grabbing a shovel off the shelf, strolling up to the manager, and striking him from behind.
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The Daily Mail reports that surveillance footage captured 29-year-old Danielson Paiva entering the Machado Supermarket in Sinop, Brazil, on Saturday afternoon. Paiva walks up to a display area, picks up a shovel, and heads toward 40-year-old Claudio dos Santos, who is on the phone with his back turned.
Paiva wound up and delivered a powerful blow to dos Santos’ head, sending him crashing to the store floor.
WOW:
— AmericanPapaBear (@AmericaPapaBear) January 21, 2025
A shovel wielding man attacks this store manager and blind sides him!
What would you do if you saw this happen in the store? pic.twitter.com/OQIlD1zWSP
One worker hurried over to confront Paiva, while another quickly tackled him. A stunned dos Santos remained on the ground for several moments before bystanders helped him to his feet and escorted him away. Meanwhile, the workers held Paiva back to stop the situation from escalating further.
The Daily Mail reports that the attacker faces a charge of attempted murder following a court appearance on Sunday. The judge also ruled that keeping him in custody was essential.
The Mato Grosso Military Police reported that Paiva confronted dos Santos following complaints from his wife, an employee at the supermarket, about the manager’s behavior.
However, dos Santos told the Brazilian news outlet G1 that he had never had any form of communication with Paiva’s wife before the attack.
“I don’t have contact with the employees, but I always hold the leaders accountable,'” dos Santos told the outlet, per The Daily Mail.
He added, “I don’t know how she conveyed this information. I think she told her husband that I had morally harassed her, but I didn’t have any contact with this employee.”
Store Manager Credits Cell Phone with Saving His Life Following the Customer’s Shovel Attack
The manager was hospitalized after the attack but was discharged on Sunday. He noted that his injuries could have been far more severe if not for the fact that he was on his cellphone at the time.
“I never expected something like this to happen,” the mild-mannered manager admitted.
“[Paiva] really wanted to kill me and what saved me was my cellphone, which shattered inside my ear and I had to get stitches,” dos Santos explained.
“But it was the cellphone that protected me from the blow.”
The supermarket announced that it has launched an investigation into the incident.
“We reinforce our commitment to the respect, safety, and well-being of our employees and customers, values that have always guided our actions,” the company said.