Rio soccer player fatally shot on PanAm Games eve

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 12 (Reuters) A stray bullet fired in a shootout between Rio de Janeiro police and drug traffickers killed a young local soccer player on the eve of the opening of the Pan American Games, police said today.

The death of an athlete, even one not taking part in the Games, adds to concerns about public safety at the 17-day event that opens tomorrow. It is expected to draw some 5,500 athletes and an estimated 800,000 tourists to the beautiful but crime-plagued city.

Leandro da Silva, 16, was shot in the chest on Wednesday while cooking breakfast at his home in a shantytown before a training session at the Sao Cristovao soccer grounds, where he had played for the junior team, a police spokeswoman said.

Separately, police shot dead a suspect in a gun battle with drug traffickers in another slum yesterday and one officer was wounded. There were no reports of standoffs today, the spokeswoman said.

Slum violence, including a massive police raid last month in which 19 suspects were killed, has been stoking concerns about security at the games. Well-armed drug gangs control many of Rio's 600-plus shantytowns, or favelas.

The city is already swarming with sports delegations and tourists planning to attend the games and visit the city's other attractions.

Some 18,000 police are providing security at the events and officials say the sports venues are safe. Still, many of the stadiums and gymnasiums are located near Rio's violent slums.

Police have threatened to stage more raids in the slums despite criticism of last month's bloody operation, labeled as a massacre by human rights groups who accused police of summary executions.

REUTERS PDS BST0239