(CNN) The Russian Embassy in Brazil denied Friday that one of its diplomats was involved in a fatal shooting of a robber in Rio de Janeiro as the Olympic Games are set to begin.

Thursday's reported shooting is just the latest security woe for Rio as it readies for Friday's opening of the games.

A giant mural created by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra is on display in Rio on Friday, July 22.

A giant mural created by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra is on display in Rio on Friday, July 22.

Musicians perform in Sao Paulo during the Olympic torch relay on Sunday, July 24.

Musicians perform in Sao Paulo during the Olympic torch relay on Sunday, July 24.

Brazilian Marines patrol the water as rowing teams practice in Rio on Friday, July 29.

Brazilian Marines patrol the water as rowing teams practice in Rio on Friday, July 29.

Members of the German Olympic team try out virtual-reality headsets on August 1.

Members of the German Olympic team try out virtual-reality headsets on August 1.

Brazilian soccer players Neymar, right, and Gabriel Jesus joke during a training session in Brasilia, Brazil, on August 1.

Brazilian soccer players Neymar, right, and Gabriel Jesus joke during a training session in Brasilia, Brazil, on August 1.

The sun sets over the Olympic Park in Rio on Monday, August 1.

The sun sets over the Olympic Park in Rio on Monday, August 1.

Khaled Alkaabi, a shooter from the United Arab Emirates, practices in Rio on August 2.

Khaled Alkaabi, a shooter from the United Arab Emirates, practices in Rio on August 2.

The U.S. field hockey team practices on August 2.

The U.S. field hockey team practices on August 2.

Security was very much evident in Rio's Guanabara Bay on August 2.

Security was very much evident in Rio's Guanabara Bay on August 2.

The women's volleyball team from the Netherlands trains in Rio on August 2.

The women's volleyball team from the Netherlands trains in Rio on August 2.

An archer trains in Rio on August 2.

An archer trains in Rio on August 2.

A member of Venezuela's Olympic team takes a selfie during a welcoming ceremony at the Olympic Village on August 2.

A member of Venezuela's Olympic team takes a selfie during a welcoming ceremony at the Olympic Village on August 2.

Divers work out in Rio on August 2.

Divers work out in Rio on August 2.

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps prepares for a training session on August 2.

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps prepares for a training session on August 2.

Deckchairs are seen at the Olympic Village on August 2.

Deckchairs are seen at the Olympic Village on August 2.

Ning Ding, a table tennis player from China, practices in Rio on August 2.

Ning Ding, a table tennis player from China, practices in Rio on August 2.

The Olympic torch is carried past the Contemporary Art Museum in Niteroi, Brazil, as it makes its way to Rio on Tuesday, August 2.

The Olympic torch is carried past the Contemporary Art Museum in Niteroi, Brazil, as it makes its way to Rio on Tuesday, August 2.

Weightlifters work out in Rio on August 3.

Weightlifters work out in Rio on August 3.

South Africa's Nothando Vilakazi, left, and Sweden's Elin Rubensson compete for the ball during a match on August 3.

South Africa's Nothando Vilakazi, left, and Sweden's Elin Rubensson compete for the ball during a match on August 3.

A volunteer walks past an advertisement in Rio's Olympic Park on August 3.

A volunteer walks past an advertisement in Rio's Olympic Park on August 3.

Cyprian gymnast Marios Georgiou rubs chalk on his hands before practicing on August 3.

Cyprian gymnast Marios Georgiou rubs chalk on his hands before practicing on August 3.

Germany's Malanie Leupolz, left, competes against Zimbabwe's Sheila Makoto during a match in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on August 3. The Olympic soccer tournament is already underway.

Germany's Malanie Leupolz, left, competes against Zimbabwe's Sheila Makoto during a match in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on August 3. The Olympic soccer tournament is already underway.

U.S. diver Kassidy Cook swats teammate Michael Hixon with a wet towel during a training session in Rio on August 3.

U.S. diver Kassidy Cook swats teammate Michael Hixon with a wet towel during a training session in Rio on August 3.

U.S. gymnast Jacob Dalton trains on the rings on August 3.

U.S. gymnast Jacob Dalton trains on the rings on August 3.

Fireworks explode during a rehearsal of the opening ceremony on Wednesday, August 3.

Fireworks explode during a rehearsal of the opening ceremony on Wednesday, August 3.

U.S. swimmer Lia Neal trains in Rio on August 4.

U.S. swimmer Lia Neal trains in Rio on August 4.

Panama's Isabella Amado practices on the balance beam on August 4.

Panama's Isabella Amado practices on the balance beam on August 4.

The sun rises over the Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain on August 4.

The sun rises over the Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain on August 4.

A mural depicts an indigenous face created by Brazilian graffiti artist Eduardo Kobra and assistants on August 4. The 32,000-square-foot "We Are All One" celebrates cultural diversity.

A mural depicts an indigenous face created by Brazilian graffiti artist Eduardo Kobra and assistants on August 4. The 32,000-square-foot "We Are All One" celebrates cultural diversity.

American gymnast Simone Biles practices on the vault during a training session August 4.

American gymnast Simone Biles practices on the vault during a training session August 4.

Retired Brazilian volleyball player Maria Isabel Barroso Salgado carries the Olympic torch in front of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, August 5. The opening ceremony will be held at the Maracana Stadium on Friday night.

Retired Brazilian volleyball player Maria Isabel Barroso Salgado carries the Olympic torch in front of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, August 5. The opening ceremony will be held at the Maracana Stadium on Friday night.

Vladimir Tokmakov, the Russian general consul in Rio, said that no consular staff members were involved in a shootout and that the shooter could have been posing as a diplomat, according to Russian state-run Tass news agency.

"All Russian diplomats and personnel of Russian foreign institutions located in Rio de Janeiro are safe and sound and are of no relation to the aforesaid incident. The man who was involved in the incident could have presented himself as a general consulate employee," Tokmakov told Tass.

A Brazilian soldier stands guard outside the Olympic Russian House in Rio's Copacabana Beach.

The shooting took place on Avenida das Americas, the main street in Rio's Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, where the Olympic Village and the majority of Olympic venues are.

It is the main thoroughfare between the Olympic zone and the rest of the city.

Reports on vice consul

Many worry Rio isn't safe or prepared enough to host the Olympic Games.

Earlier reports from Brazilian state-run news agency Agencia Brasil said that a Russian diplomat struggled with a robber during an attempted mugging before taking the assailant's gun and shooting him.

Local media reports said the shooter was a Russian vice consul who was in a car with his wife and daughter when a robber approached on a bike.

Unconfirmed reports on social media even said the diplomat had used jiu-jitsu to disarm the robber.

The Russian Embassy said in statement: "At the time of the incident all Consulate officials in Rio de Janeiro were inside the building itself or in rented space for Russian fans of the Olympics in Copacabana called 'House of the Fans.' "

Criminals tried to rob a Russian diplomat near athletes village at gun point. He knew jujitsu & fought back, stole gun and shot robber dead — Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort) August 4, 2016

Rio's civil police refused to comment on the case to CNN, while calls to the military police were not answered.

Security concerns

Violence has marred the lead-up to the games, with many concerned that Rio isn't safe or prepared enough to host the world's biggest sports event, set to open at 8 p.m. local time Friday.

A jiu-jitsu athlete from New Zealand, Jason Lee, fled Rio to Toronto after reporting men in police uniform kidnapped him and threatened him to withdraw cash at two ATMS.

Jiu-jitsu is not an Olympic sport, so Lee wasn't set to compete in the games, but the former national champion has lived in Rio for almost a year.

What did you guys get up to yesterday?

I got kidnapped. Go Olympics!#Rio2016 — Jason Lee (@jasonleejitsu) July 24, 2016

Australian athletes complained of property, including laptops, being stolen as they evacuated the athletes' village in a fire scare.

Brazilian authorities tightened security around the Olympic torch relay after protesters mobbed the event and managed to extinguish the flame.

Authorities said nearly 14,000 security officers had been deployed to the wider state of Rio for the Olympics, about a third more than previously planned.