Rogue Cop Shoots Jiujitsu Champion Dead After Losing Bar Brawl In Brazil

An eight-time jiu-jitsu world champion who was lauded for his skill in the martial art was killed in Brazil on Sunday after he reportedly fought with an off-duty police officer and got shot in the head in the process.

Leandro Lo, a 33-year-old Brazilian native well-known worldwide for winning the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s {IBJJF) World Champion title in five different weight categories from 2012 to as recently as this year, was shot and killed after getting into an altercation with a police officer in a club in Sao Paulo, according to al-Jazeera.

Lo was reportedly confronted by Police Officer Henrique Otávio Oliveira Velozo, who had made threatening gestures against Lo and his companions with a bottle found in Lo’s table. The world champion attempted to de-escalate the situation by pinning the man and holding him down, the New York Post reported.

However, this only grew to aggravate the officer more, reportedly pulling his gun out to shoot Lo in the head. Lo was taken to a hospital after he was shot, but was declared brain-dead by the doctors in the hospital when he arrived.

Lo, who is one of the most decorated fighters in Brazilian jiu-jitsu history, was showered with praise by many of his peers for being the best pound-for-pound in the sport. Many commemorated his achievements in the sport online, with website BJJ Heroes calling him “one of the best pound-for-pound grapplers to have ever graced a mat.”

“The IBJJF and Jiu Jitsu community are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Leandro Lo. Lo was one of the greatest athletes our sport has ever produced. An example of a true black belt, martial artist and champion on and off the mats. Rest in peace legend,” the IBJJF said in a tweet.

“A very sad day for the BJJ community,” former UFC fighter Kenny Florian said. “Leandro was a legend.”

Veloso was arrested and ordered by the court to be detained for 30 days pending further investigation.