Brazilian wrestler Leandro Lo, one of the world’s greatest figures in jiu-jitsu and eight-times world champion of this martial art, died Sunday after being shot in the head by a man with whom he argued at a party in São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, federative sources reported.
“The idol of a sport, Leandro Lo, leaves us materially. We offer homage and reverence to the one who helped and inspired so many people to wear the kimono all over the world,” the Brazilian Confederation of Sport Jiu-Jitsu (CBJJE) reported in a statement.
The homicide occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning at the exclusive Club Sirio, in the south zone of São Paulo, where the athlete had gone with friends to enjoy a performance of a popular music group at a party.
According to witnesses, the fighter argued for reasons not yet clarified with a man who was allegedly drunk and whom the athlete pinned down with a typical martial arts armlock to calm him down. Once free, the aggressor pulled out a gun and shot the world champion in the head.
He was eventually transferred to a hospital and diagnosed as brain dead.
His assailant, who fled after the crime, was declared a fugitive, although the São Paulo Military Police reported that they had already identified him.
Leandro Pereira do Nascimento Lo, 33 years old, was eight times world jiu-jitsu champion in five different categories and won five World Cup titles in the sport and eight Pan-American titles in this sport.
The fighter, who conquered his first world title in 2012 in the light-heavyweight category, was still active and, in May this year, conquered a new world title, but in the medium-heavyweight category.
“The first title was the feeling of being world champion, and this last one, the feeling of still getting to be world champion. The two best sensations of my life,” said the fighter in a publication on his social networks.
The Brazilian was scheduled to dispute a championship in the United States in the coming days.
With information from El Comercio