A Brazilian man who sparked outrage by burning a Bible on camera and sharing the footage online has been found shot dead.

The body of 47-year-old Antônio Rocha de Sousa was discovered on Wednesday, May 14, reportedly riddled with bullet wounds. Authorities are treating the case as a homicide.

Just 10 days earlier, Antônio had posted a controversial video in which he set a Bible on fire while delivering a provocative message.

In the clip, he says: “This here is a Bible, which they say is sacred. Look what it does when faced with fire. It burns.” He continued: “To me, God doesn’t exist. This is just a way to enslave and manipulate people. If you haven’t woken up yet, it’s time to wake up.”

His death occurred in Tianguá, a municipality west of Fortaleza in northeastern Brazil. While initial reports suggested he was gunned down on the street, other sources say his body was found inside his home by locals who notified police.

Investigators are exploring all possible motives, including whether his death was connected to the viral video or other elements of his past.

Authorities confirmed that Antônio had a criminal record, including a history of causing bodily harm (GBH). He was also under investigation for theft, damage, and sacrilege following the Bible-burning video posted on May 4, which allegedly featured a stolen copy of the book.

Police stated that no arrests have been made so far, but a spokesperson noted: “We are looking into all possibilities.”

Antônio was known for regularly sharing controversial views on social media. Interestingly, one of his final posts before his death read: “Follower of Christ, peacekeeper of Peace. Born again in Christ, among the living who were once dead… after having been tested, tried, and approved by God.”

His death has drawn comparisons to that of Salwan Momika, the Iraqi refugee who gained international attention in 2023 for publicly burning Qurans in Sweden. Momika was shot in his apartment in Södertälje, near Stockholm, in January 2025.

The investigation into Antônio’s death remains ongoing.