Alcino João do Nascimento

Alcino João do Nascimento (3 July 1922 – 18 January 2014) was a Brazilian construction worker. He gained notoriety for being one of the convicted for the assassination attempt of journalist and politician Carlos Lacerda, which became nationally known as the Rua Tonelero shooting.

Biography Alcino João do Nascimento was born in Itaperuna, Rio de Janeiro, one of the 12 children of José João do Nascimento and Leonídia Maria do Nascimento. In 1939, aged 17, he moved to Resplendor with a brother. There, he met Abigail Rabelo, whom he married (at the time, Abigail was 13 years old). Married, but unemployed, he went to Belo Horizonte to look for a job. At this moment, he began a good relationship with then mayor Juscelino Kubitschek, who hired him as construction worker of the city.

A little bit later, Juscelino presented Alcino to Gregório Fortunato, head of the personal security of president Getúlio Vargas, who looked for a man to work as detective. Even being called for this job, he worked as Vargas' personal barber and his family's nurse.

After cross-fire, Lacerda was shot on the foot, and Major Vaz, after being shot twice by a .45 caliber pistol (of exclusive use of the Brazilian Armed Forces), died heading to the hospital. Alcino stated that the assailant was Lutero Vargas, son of Getúlio Vargas and adversary of Carlos Lacerda. The Air Force high command assumed the investigations on 8 August, same that when Gregório Fortunato, accused to be the main assailant, confessed his participation. Climério Euribes de Almeida and Alcino João do Nascimento were arrested a little time later.

Life after the attack Trial and conviction In 1956, Alcino went on trial and was convicted to 51 years in prison, 33 for his participation in the attack against Lacerda and 18 more for an armed robbery, which he was later acquitted in 1975.

Book The book "Mataram o presidente! – memórias do pistoleiro que mudou a história do Brasil" ("The president was killed! – memories of a gunslinger who changed the history of Brazil"), launched after Alcino was released, brings his version about the night of 5 August 1954, during the attack.

Candidate for councillor In 2012, aged 90, Alcino was candidate for city councillor of Mantenópolis, Espírito Santo. Member of the Workers' Party (PT), he was the oldest candidate of the state.