The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned the on-air killing of a Brazilian radio host and called for Brazilian authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Gleydson Carvalho was shot five times by two gunmen while he presented a live show on August 6 in the northeastern city of Camocim, news reports said. Carvalho was known for reporting on government corruption at Radio Liberdade FM station.

The two gunmen overpowered the station’s receptionist and allowed Carvalho’s sound engineer to take cover. They then shot the reporter five times at point-blank range and escaped on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice. Carvalho was rushed to the hospital but died on the way.

Police told EFE they had arrested two people with connections to the main suspect on August 8 and had recovered what may be the murder weapon.

Carvalho had often received threats, including some on air, according to his coworkers and friends.

“He spoke to me constantly about the threats but said he wasn’t afraid,” Carvalho’s friend Autran Santos told local media. “The most serious threats he received were to do with politics. He said he had enemies because of the accusations he made.”

“We condemn the killing of Gleydson Carvalho’s death, and our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues,” IPI Director of Press Freedom Programmes Scott Griffen said. “Once again, we remind the Brazilian government that its failure to solve past crimes against journalists – of which there are many, sadly – only fuels further violence. Investigators in this case should strongly consider the possibility that the killing was related to the Mr. Carvalho’s work and follow the investigation wherever it may lead.”

Earlier this year, investigative journalist Evany José Metzker was found dead in the town of Padre Paraíso, in southeastern Brazil, five days after going missing. Although the motive behind the killing is still unknown, state police officers have established that the killing may have been related to the journalist’s work. Metzker was investigating a child prostitution gang when he died.

Two other journalists, Gerardo Servian and Djalma Santos da Conceição, died earlier this year in incidents also suspected to be related to their work.

At least 22 journalists have been killed in Brazil during the last 10 years for reasons most likely related to their work, according to IPI’s Death Watch.