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Killing of Erick Bria, Leonildo Sequeira, and Luis Belo (Kulu Hun shooting)

An off-duty, intoxicated police officer opened fire into a crowd at a party in Dili, Timor-Leste in November 2018, killing three 18-year-old men and wounding five others; the officer and a colleague were later convicted and sentenced.

SOLVED2018

Dili, Timor-Leste

3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Background

Police brutality had been a recurring concern in Timor-Leste since the country's independence, with prior incidents reported in Bebonuk (Dili), Praia dos Coqueiros, Ainaro (2017), Covalima (2016), Hera (2012), Delta Nova (2009), and Viqueque (2007). These earlier cases form the backdrop against which the Kulu Hun shooting occurred.

The Shooting

In the early morning of 18 November 2018, four off-duty police officers — identified as José Mina, and three others known by the initials FMS, AJS and AJT — were attending a *kore metan* (end-of-mourning ceremony) hosted by a colleague. All four were intoxicated and in plain clothes. Shortly after midnight, an argument broke out between two men at the gathering, and the officers attempted to intervene. During the confrontation, a power outage plunged the area into darkness. José Mina then stood on a bench and fired his service pistol into the dark crowd.

Three 18-year-old men were killed instantly: Erick Joni Robertus Bria, struck in the head; Leonildo "Leo" Eduardo Ximenes Sequeira, struck in the chest; and Luis Quevin Saldanha Belo, struck in the throat. Five other people were seriously injured in the shooting.

Aftermath

The killings provoked immediate public outrage directed at Timor-Leste's National Police, and protests broke out in Dili the day after the shooting. On 27 March 2019, José Mina was sentenced to 25 years in prison, and FMS received a 20-year sentence.

The case remained a point of reference in subsequent years amid continued concerns over police conduct. Further protests occurred after a separate fatal shooting on 5 June 2021, in which a PNTL officer fired at people in their homes in Lahane, killing Mateus "Amino" de Deus and fatally wounding his son Camilo de Deus, while critically injuring their son-in-law. That incident is referenced as part of the broader pattern of unrest linked to police shootings in Timor-Leste but is a separate case from the Kulu Hun shooting.

Key facts

Victims
Luis Quevin Saldanha Belo, Leonildo "Leo" Eduardo Ximenes Sequeira, Erick Joni Robertus Bria
Date
2018
Location
Dili, Timor-Leste
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2018-11-18

    Off-duty, intoxicated police officer José Mina fires his service pistol into a crowd during a power outage at a party in Dili, killing three 18-year-old men and injuring five others.

  2. 2019-03-27

    José Mina is sentenced to 25 years in prison; fellow officer FMS is sentenced to 20 years.

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People

  • FMS

    CONVICTED

    Off-duty police officer present at the shooting, sentenced to 20 years in prison.

  • Luis Quevin Saldanha Belo

    VICTIM

    18-year-old killed instantly, shot in the throat.

  • José Mina

    CONVICTED

    Off-duty police officer convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for firing the shots that killed three men.

  • Leonildo "Leo" Eduardo Ximenes Sequeira

    VICTIM

    18-year-old killed instantly, shot in the chest.

  • Erick Joni Robertus Bria

    VICTIM

    18-year-old killed instantly, shot in the head.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Dili, Timor-Leste

-8.5586, 125.5736

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
An off-duty, intoxicated police officer opened fire into a crowd at a party in Dili, Timor-Leste in November 2018, killing three 18-year-old men and wounding five others; the officer and a colleague were later convicted and sentenced.
Where did the killing happen?
Dili, Timor-Leste.
Who was convicted?
FMS (Off-duty police officer present at the shooting, sentenced to 20 years in prison.) and José Mina (Off-duty police officer convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for firing the shots that killed three men.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Timor-Leste

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICKulu Hun shootingWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — The GuardianThe Guardian · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — easttimorlawandjusticebulletin.comeasttimorlawandjusticebulletin.com · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026

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