Rio de Janeiro - The head of a high-security jail in Rio de Janeiro was shot dead Thursday on Brazil Avenue, the main road that provides access to the city centre, officials said.

Lieutenant Colonel Jose Roberto do Amaral Lourenço, chief of Bangu 3 jail, was shot at least 30 times near the suburb of Deodoro, police said citing preliminary reports.

Amaral is the second director of a high-security jail to be killed in Rio. In 2000, Sidneia Santos de Jesus was shot dead outside her home. Her killers were never found, and the Rio de Janeiro state government had to pay Santos' family 600,000 dollars in compensation. (dpa)