Who was Leandro Lo? Jiu-Jitsu world champion, 33, shot and killed by cop
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL: Jiu-Jitsu world champion Leandro Lo died on August 7 after being shot in the head at a concert. He was allegedly killed during a confrontation between him and Henrique Otávio Oliveira Velozo, a police officer.
According to MMAFighting, witnesses saw the suspect, Velozo, grabbing a bottle from Lo’s table before the 33-year-old Lo confronted him and took him down. When the two were separated, witnesses say Velozo took out his gun and shot Lo. Lo was one of the most decorated Jiu-jitsu fighters of all time with eight World Championship titles. Media in Sao Puala have reported that a murder investigation is underway.
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After the shocking news of Lo's death, whose full name was Leandro Lo Pereira do Nascimento, tributes started pouring in on social media platforms from fans across the world. One fan wrote, "RIP Leandro Lo. You were and always will be a legend." While another wrote, "Very upsetting to hear what happened to Leandro Lo, he was my biggest inspiration when I first started Jiu Jitsu and I continued to admire his work in the sport, he was a great champion and will live on as one of the greatest to ever do it. Rest In Peace Leandro Lo." Josh Thomson of CBS tweeted by saying, "The word legend is thrown around way to 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."
Very upsetting to hear what happened to Leandro Lo, he was my biggest inspiration when I first started Jiu Jitsu and I continued to admire his work in the sport, he was a great champion and will live on as one of the greatest to ever do it.
— My own summer (@elitemadhouse) August 8, 2022
Rest In Peace Leandro Lo.
The word legend is thrown around way to 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 ❤️🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/XkLOCXNZHz
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) August 7, 2022
Who was Leandro Lo?
Born on May 11, 1989, Lo received his black belt under Cicero Costha at the Cicero Costha Academy in Sao Paulo. He had started practicing Jiu-Jitsu through the Projecto Social Lutando Pelo Bem (PSLPB), a social project for underprivileged children in 2004, a project led by Cicero Costha, according to BJJHeroes. It also mentions that in 2012, Lo got tagged as the best lightweight competitor in the world, after wins at the Mundial World Championship the Pan American and the Brazilian Nationals. He then founded the New School 'NS' Brotherhood squad in 2015, and also won Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Championships, according to Opoyi.
According to a report by Flograppling, Lo was the only athlete to ever won to have won 8 IBJJF world titles and and seven Copa Podio Grand Prixs in the sport. He held victories over skilled opponents like Gordon Ryan, Andre Galvao, Gilbert Burns, Roberto Satoshi, Augusto Mendes, Felipe Pena, Alan Belcher, Davi Ramos, and Dillon Danis.