Vaquejada Champion Stabbed to Death After Prize Dispute in Ceará

Overview

• The vaqueiro Francisco Eudásio Lira Soares, known as Dadá Guedes, was fatally stabbed after a dispute over splitting a R$2,000 prize during post‑event celebrations, according to multiple local reports.
• The attack occurred while Dadá was still on his horse and included stab wounds to the groin and shoulder; he was taken to a hospital and later died from his injuries.
• After the stabbing the assailant escaped on a motorcycle and remains at large as police from the Delegacia de Polícia Civil de Quixeramobim, Polícia Militar and Pefoce carry out an active manhunt.
• Some media outlets have named a suspect as Sasom Boiadeiro and published a photo, but the state security secretary had not formally released the assailant’s identity at the time of reporting.
• Organizers said the killing happened after official activities ended and that private security had been on site, and the death has deepened local shock because vaquejada competitions are a key livelihood and community for participants like Dadá.