Law enforcement officials announced escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante was captured without any shots fired Wednesday morning after a two-week manhunt in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Cavalcante was captured by police in Chester County, Pennsylvania, a day after police confirmed that he was armed with a rifle stolen from a garage. The search began after he escaped from prison on Aug. 31 by "crab-walking" up a wall in the exercise yard. Cavalcante was the second person to escape from the prison this year after an inmate escaped in a similar manner but was captured within minutes of escaping.
MCCARTHY ANNOUNCES IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
Thank you to our law enforcement partners and the community whose support brought this operation to a successful conclusion. pic.twitter.com/ogmZKg1fGr
— PA State Police (@PAStatePolice) September 13, 2023
Cavalcante's capture did not result in any injuries to the public or law enforcement. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) celebrated the capture by thanking law enforcement officials and the public for helping get Cavalcante back into police custody.
"I hope the good people of Pennsylvania and indeed the folks all across this nation got a chance to see how government is supposed to work, how law enforcement is supposed to work, where we all come together, where we focus on the mission," Shapiro said. "And while women and men up here may wear different uniforms and different badges, we were here with a common purpose. And that was to apprehend the suspect and keep people safe."
Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens explained how authorities were able to find and capture Cavalcante, with an initial heat signature being spotted by a plane around 1 a.m. on Wednesday west of Pennsylvania Route 100 and north of Prizer Road. The plane had to be grounded because of storms, but a tactical team secured the area, and shortly after 8 a.m., they surrounded Cavalcante.
Bivens said Cavalcante attempted to escape by crawling "through thick underbrush" before police released a dog, which "subdued him." Cavalcante did have a "minor fight wound," and medical personnel examined him.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
He was then taken into custody and transported to Pennsylvania State Police's Avondale Barracks, and he will be transferred to a state correctional institute.
Cavalcante, a 34-year-old Brazilian national, was convicted in August of first-degree murder for the death of his former girlfriend Deborah Brandao and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole shortly after. He is also wanted in Brazil for different murder charges.