There was no doubt in my mind that they would have shot me if I had tried to run.
Absolutely
I was in Italy during the Aldo Moro killing by the Red Brigades.
I too had the Carabinieri draw down on me. When a bunch of guys with machine guns and automatic pistols surround you, you put your hands in the air and lay face down on the floor. I had a machine gun at the back of my head for what seemed like hours when it was probably no more than a minute. All the while I was saying “Americano, Americano”. I have no doubt that if I had run they would have killed me.
You do not mess with police in a foreign country, especially during periods of terrorist or rebel activity.
I feel very sorry for this Brazilian guy but given the circumstances the police did what they had to do.
I would suspect that this guy had some kind of illegal activity going on...perhaps drugs or a computer hacker. There must be a reason to just keep running.