Brazilian jiu-jitsu wrestler, Leandro Lo was shot dead by a military police officer at a party in São Paulo, Sunday morning, Aug. 7.
The 33-year-old fighter, who has eight world championship titles to his name, reportedly got into an argument with Officer Henrique Otávio Oliveira Velozo, when he grabbed a bottle from Lo's table at a concert by Grupo Pixote, one of Brazil’s most famous samba pop groups.
Witnesses said they had to intervene when the altercation escalated into a physical fight. That’s when Velozo pulled out a gun and shot Lo in the face, reports said.
"At that exact moment, the guy allegedly turned around, pulled out a gun, and shot Leandro in the head," lawyer Iva Siqueira Junior told AFP.
The MMA fighter was rushed to Dr. Arthur Ribeiro de Saboya hospital where doctors declared him brain dead, according to a police report obtained by Combate.
We lost a legend to senseless gun violence ?? RIP to Leandro Lo pic.twitter.com/qcl59RZkfO
— BJJ Saved My Life (@BJJSavedMyLife) August 7, 2022
A Sao Paulo court has ordered to detain the 30-year-old suspect for 30 days, pending further investigation, the newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo reported.
Tributes have poured in for the fighter who is one of the sport's most decorated fighters.
Lo's mother said in an Instagram post that she felt that "a part of her was missing" after "my hero" was killed.
"I will hold on to the good memories, of which there are many. You made me feel like the most loved mother in the world," she added.
Former UFC fighter Kenny Florian tweeted, "A very sad day for the BJJ community. Leandro was a legend."
“He was a reference in the sport,” said the jiu-jitsu fighter Marcela Lima.
"Saddened to hear about the tragic loss of Leandro Lo. One of the greatest Jiu-jitsu players ever. Absolutely tragic. My condolences to his family and friends," Commentator John Gooden wrote.
"The word legend is thrown around way too much in sports but it can’t be thrown around enough when it comes to your name in Jiu Jitsu. Leandro Lo, my heart, and prayers to your family my brother. Rest easy my friend," Former heavyweight champion-turned-broadcaster Josh Thomson posted.
![Leandro Lo](https://d.latintimes.com/en/full/523405/leandro-lo.png?w=736&f=2ce8448666a0f71097f240c51793f398)
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