Monday night, a homeowner fired shots at a person matching the description of the escaped murderer.
TOWNSHIP OF EAST NANTMEAL, Pennsylvania — Authorities said Tuesday that they believe escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante is still within a search perimeter in Chester County, Pennsylvania after he seized a rifle from a garage and fled a homeowner’s gunfire.
In the nearly two-week-long manhunt, heavily armed police descended on South Coventry Township, shutting down roads and instructing residents to secure their doors.
State police say the fugitive assassin who has been on the run in Chester County, Pennsylvania for nearly two weeks is now armed with a rifle.
Tuesday morning footage from WPVI-TV’s Chopper 6 showed armed crews in tactical garb searching through fields, forests, and backyards for Cavalcante.
A motorist observed a man crouched along the wood line on the south side of Fairview Road west of Route 100 in East Nantmeal Township around 8:00 p.m. on Monday, according to state police.
According to the police, she turned around for a second glance, but by that time the man had disappeared.
Upon arrival, troopers and a border patrol tactical team discovered footprints in the dirt that matched the prison shoes Cavalcante was wearing, according to police.
The police followed the footprints and discovered that both prison shoes had been abandoned. Another local resident reported that her work boots were stolen from her front veranda, according to police.
Police say that at 10:10 p.m., Cavalcante entered the garage of a residence on the 3500 block of Coventryville Road while the proprietor was inside. Cavalcante seized the 22-caliber rifle resting in the corner.
Police say that this firearm has a scope and a flashlight. Police noted that Cavalcante also possesses ammunition with the weapon.
According to police, the homeowner, who was armed with a pistol, fired multiple rounds at him. However, police claim they have no evidence Cavalcante was struck.
A green sweatshirt and white t-shirt belonging to Cavalcante were discovered by police near the driveway’s edge.
A new perimeter of search established
The current perimeter of the search is bounded by Route 23 to the north, Route 100 to the east, Fairview and Nantmeal roads to the south, and Iron Bridge and County Park roads to the west.
The current perimeter of the search is bounded by Route 23 to the north, Route 100 to the east, Fairview and Nantmeal roads to the south, and Iron Bridge and County Park roads to the west.
Approximately 500 law enforcement officers are securing the current perimeter, which extends three miles east and west and two miles north and south.
Tuesday, Governor Josh Shapiro visited the command center in Unionville and expressed his complete support for the agents and officers working on this case.
He sought to reassure the community while also requesting their assistance in the search for the suspect.
Shapiro stated, “We are doing everything in our power to ensure your safety.” “I would like to urge you to lock your doors when you’re inside, to lock your cars, and to not leave anything on your porches.”
Due to the ongoing search, all Owen J. Roberts School District campuses and offices will be closed on Wednesday.
Residents of East Nantmeal and South Coventry are instructed to close all exterior doors and windows, secure their vehicles, and remain inside.
The prisoner has been on the run since August 31, when he escaped from the Chester County Prison.
The reward for information leading to Cavalcante’s capture has increased to $25,000, the police announced Monday.
Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police issued a severe warning to anyone who may be aiding Cavalcante in evading police.
“We will vigorously prosecute you for your actions,” he said. “Alternatively, I would suggest that if you are in a position to help facilitate the safe capture of Cavalcante, if you choose to assist us, you could be eligible for some or all of the reward that has been offered.”
Call 911 or the police tip line at 717-562-2987 if you have any information.
Police defend search efforts for Cavalcante
Monday, state and federal officials refuted claims that they missed an opportunity to apprehend Cavalcante, stating that the area where hundreds of people had been searching included dense forests, underground tunnels, and drainage ditches.
They also said it took more than two hours for news to reach them that he had been spotted outside the perimeter for the first time.
Cavalcante sneaked out of an earlier 8-square-mile search area over the weekend and stole a dairy delivery van that had been left unlocked with the keys in it. Police say he abandoned it more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of the search area after unsuccessfully seeking assistance at the residences of two former colleagues.
Bivens refused to specify how he believes Cavalcante evaded the perimeter, but he did state that no perimeter is entirely secure.
‘He lacks what he requires’
He stated that Cavalcante is desperate because he is reaching out to individuals with whom he hasn’t spoken in years for assistance.
Bivens stated, “The fact that he has reached out to people with a very distant past connection indicates that he does not have a strong network of support.” “Therefore, I believe he is desperate, and I have characterized him as such throughout.
And I believe that the longer we pursue him and the more resources and instruments we employ, we will eventually capture him. He lacks the resources necessary for long-term success.”
Bivens has stated that state police have the authority to use lethal force if Cavalcante does not voluntarily surrender, and he has noted that other agencies involved in the search may have their own standards.
Bivens declined to comment on whether Cavalcante has received assistance from third parties but stated that no arrests of this nature have been made.
Cavalcante’s sister detained
Cavalcante’s sister was detained by immigration authorities, Bivens said. He said she was arrested for staying past her legally permitted period of stay and law enforcement had no reason to allow her to remain in the United States since she was not cooperating with the investigation.
Cavalcante, 34, broke out of the Chester County Prison while awaiting transfer to a state prison to serve a life sentence for fatally stabbing ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao in 2021. Prosecutors say he killed her to stop her from telling police that he was wanted in a slaying in his native country of Brazil.
Cavalcante escaped by crab-walking up a wall from the recreation yard, climbing over barbed wire, running across a roof, and jumping to the ground. His escape went unnoticed for over an hour until the officers conducted a head count. The on-duty tower security was dismissed, according to officials.
In Brazil, prosecutors in the state of Tocantins have charged Cavalcante with “double qualified homicide” in the 2017 murder of Válter Junior Moreira dos Reis in the municipality of Figueiropolis over a vehicle repair debt.
