Police in Pennsylvania on Tuesday said escaped killer Danelo Cavalcante was spotted in another part of Philadelphia’s suburbs — and now he’s armed.
Lt. Col. George Bivens said the convicted murderer sneaked into an open garage Monday night in South Coventry Township and stole a rifle while the homeowner also was in the garage.
The homeowner, who saw Cavalcante snatch the rifle, grabbed a pistol and fired at the prisoner, who originally broke out of a state prison in Chester County nearly two weeks ago.
“Cavalcante is considered armed and extremely dangerous and is now armed with a .22 caliber rifle with a scope and flashlight mounted on it,” Lt. Col. Bivens said during a Tuesday press conference.
Police said they discovered a green sweatshirt and white T-shirt at the edge of the homeowner’s driveway that they believe belonged to Cavalcante.
A driver spotted the murderer in the same area a few hours earlier, according to authorities. Search teams scoured the location and found tracks that led to Cavalcante’s discarded prison shoes.
Police said another resident reported having her work boots stolen from her front porch shortly afterward.
Cavalcante was spotted over the weekend in Phoenixville, 10 miles east of where he was seen Monday night. Police said he was clean-shaven with new clothes and had stolen a vehicle.
The prison from which he escaped on Aug. 31 is 20 miles south of his last reported location as the killer works to elude the roughly 500 local, state and federal law enforcement officials working to find him.
The Brazilian, 34, was sentenced to life in prison Aug. 16 for stabbing his ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao to death in 2021.
Prosecutors said Cavalcante murdered Brandao in front of her two children after she learned he was wanted on unrelated homicide charges in Brazil and told him she was going to alert police.
The murderer escaped his Pennsylvania prison by scaling a wall and climbing over razor wire.
Cavalcante was gone for more than an hour before prison officials learned he was unaccounted for. The tower prison guard on duty at the time of his escape has been fired.
Police said Cavalcante is 5 feet tall and weighs 120 pounds.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.