Leandro Lo Case: Police Officer Accused of Killing Jiu-Jitsu Fighter Acquitted

The São Paulo Military Police lieutenant, Henrique Velozo, was acquitted by the Jury on Friday (14) after a three-day trial in the capital. He was accused of murdering the 33-year-old jiu-jitsu world champion Leandro Lo. The majority of the jurors agreed with the military’s defense arguments, which had claimed from the outset that the officer had acted in self-defense. Velozo’s trial began on Wednesday (12) and concluded on Friday at the Barra Funda Criminal Forum in the West Zone of the capital.
The defense of the military and the victim’s family await a statement from them.
Recalling the Case
Jiu-jitsu fighter Leandro Lo was murdered during a show at the Clube Sírio in August 2022 after being shot in the head. Lo’s defense, based on witness testimonies, described how the altercation began when the PM approached the table where the fighter and his friends were and started tampering with their drinks. The world champion did not appreciate this and reacted by applying a jiu-jitsu move to immobilize the officer. ‘At that moment, the guy stood up, walked around, and shot Leandro in the head,’ said lawyer Ivã Siqueira. He also claimed that the officer kicked the victim twice while he was already on the ground.
The lawyer also mentioned that Velozo being a military police officer may have allowed him to enter the event carrying a firearm. The case was initially reported as attempted homicide and investigated by the 16th Police District of the capital.
Who Was Leandro Lo
An eight-time jiu-jitsu world champion, São Paulo native Leandro Lo is considered one of the biggest names in the sport’s history. He also held titles from the World Cup, Brazilian Championship, and Pan-American Championship. His last major title was won in June 2022. On social media, the fighter described the victory as one of the most important in his career and stated that the feeling was as significant as when he became a champion for the first time in 2012.