Leandro Lo was one of the most accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes to have ever competed in the gi class (kimono) and a record holder for most IBJJF World titles in different weight classes (5) — light, middle, medium-heavy, heavy and open weight, a 20-year-old record broken in 2020 (more details here). A former student of Cicero Costha, Leandro Lo’s first steps towards grappling stardom were taken in April 2011 when he defeated Michael Langhi (who had been unbeaten for 3 years), on his way to the top of the podium of the UAEJJF World Pro. Since that win, Leandro Lo cemented himself as one of the best “Pound for Pound” grapplers to have ever graced a mat, with repeated wins at the World Championships, the prestigious Copa Pódio, and Pan American Championships. Lo was shot and killed at a public event in August 2022 at the age of 33 (see below for details).Leandro Lo was born on the 11th of May, 1989 on the east side of São Paulo – Brazil. He 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.Leandro was a natural athlete and won many important titles as a junior, such as the Mundial in 2005, medalling again in 2006. Known as a spider guard /triangle type of grappler, when he was a purple belt, Lo’s game would change due to an injury suffered when he was a purple belt, which kept him away from competitions for a few months. Not having the pressure to perform every weekend, it was during his “competition-free” phase that Lo started working on his top game, a game for which he would become known during his black belt heyday.In 2007 the world’s biggest organization (CBJJ/IBJJF) moved its most important tournament, the Mundial, to the United States seeking worldwide recognition. With the change, many Brazilian competitors (Leandro included) lost their window, the best way to showcase their skills to a wider audience, as they did not have the means to travel to America. These grapplers were left with smaller events, most of which were won by Lo.In June 2018 Leandro was hoping to match Saulo Ribeiro’s 4 IBJJF world titles in 4 different weight classes, after coming up short in 2017.  He reached the final against Mahamed Aly but was forced to quit after a shoulder injury from a throw dislocated his shoulder. Although still scheduled to compete in the final of the open weight class against Marcus Almeida, the injury prevented him from stepping on the mat and all hope of matching Ribeiro’s record was lost. That was until Marcus chose to forfeit the title and not to challenge Leandro, this way awarding the São Paulo native his first absolute title and his 4th world title in a different weight class.Leandro Lo died on Saturday evening 06, 2022, from a gun-inflicted wound to his head. The tragic events took place at the Clube Sírio showroom, in Indianópolis a neighborhood of São Paulo, Brazil, where Leandro was attending a musical performance by the pagode-style band Pixote. According to several witnesses, the shooter, an off-duty military police officer named Henrique Velozo, approached the table where Lo and his friends were sitting and behaved wrongfully by stealing a drink from the table. Leandro confronted Mr. Velozo and the two engaged in a brief physical altercation where Lo took control of the action. Once separated by the bystanders, Lo returned to his table but Henrique followed him there and shot him in the head at close range.Despite being immediately rushed to the hospital, Leandro was found to have irreparably lost all brain function. Henrique Velozo fled the crime scene but was later arrested by the police.Cover picture was taken by BJJPix.