A military police officer accused of killing world-renowned jiu-jitsu champion Leandro Lo has been dismissed from the São Paulo Military Police force following a unanimous decision by the state’s Military Court of Justice.
Lieutenant Henrique Otávio Oliveira Velozo, who allegedly shot Lo in the head during an incident at a club in August 2022, was stripped of his rank and position on Wednesday afternoon after seven military judges voted in favor of his dismissal.
According to an official statement from the São Paulo Military Court of Justice (TJMSP), the decision was based on
“serious disciplinary infractions classified as dishonorable and incompatible with military police function, in addition to being an affront to the institution, the state, and fundamental human rights.”
The court noted the swift processing of the military proceedings, which began on April 24 and concluded within just 74 days. This administrative action was separate from the criminal proceedings, which will be handled by civilian courts due to the nature of the charges.
The tragic incident occurred on August 7, 2022, during a musical performance at the Syrian Club in São Paulo’s south zone. According to police investigations, Lo, an eight-time world champion in jiu-jitsu, became involved in a dispute with Velozo, who was off-duty and wearing civilian clothes at the time.
Investigators allege that during the initial confrontation, Lo knocked down the military police officer. Velozo then reportedly left the scene, returned armed, and fired a fatal shot to the man’s head. Witnesses reported that after the shooting, Velozo kicked the unconscious champion twice before fleeing the premises.
The following day, Velozo presented himself to the Military Police Internal Affairs office and was subsequently taken to a police station for questioning. A judge ordered his temporary detention, which was later converted to preventive detention. He remains held at Romão Gomes prison in São Paulo’s north zone.
The case has faced several procedural delays. A criminal trial initially scheduled for May 22–23 was suspended after Velozo’s defense attorneys argued that their right to a proper defense was compromised when the judge refused to hear testimony from private expert witnesses just three days before the proceedings.
The criminal trial for homicide charges is now scheduled for August 5, where Velozo will face civilian justice for what prosecutors classify as murder with trivial motive.
In a controversial development, despite being held in preventive detention, Velozo has continued receiving his lieutenant’s salary throughout his imprisonment. Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court ruled that the São Paulo government must maintain his monthly payments, determining that suspension of remuneration would only be legal after a final conviction.
The case has drawn significant attention both within Brazil and internationally, given Lo‘s status as one of the world’s most accomplished jiu-jitsu competitors. The 33-year-old martial artist was widely respected in the martial arts community and had achieved legendary status through his technical prowess and competitive achievements.
The Military Court’s decision to dismiss Velozo marks a significant step in the proceedings, effectively ending his career in law enforcement regardless of the outcome of his criminal trial. The unanimous nature of the ruling underscores the severity with which the military justice system viewed his alleged actions.
