Thaynã Higor, a three-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion, has been killed on Wednesday (October 12) in a random act of violence.
Higor, who was 25 years old and a para-athlete, was shot in the head while standing outside of a restaurant in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The assailant, still unnamed, was arrested by the police – according to the report by Globo news subsidiary G1.
Higor was a para-athlete. A medical error at birth prevented his left arm from fully developing; but he trained and competed in BJJ, winning three world titles under the “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Confederation of Parasports”, as well as two titles in the “Abu Dhabi World Festival Para Jiu-Jitsu”.
He also competed in “standard” BJJ tournaments.
The report, backed up by surveillance footage from the restaurant’s camera, points out that Higor was standing on the sidewalk; waiting for a car to pick him up.
However, a couple of moments later, an unknown man approached the victim – shooting him in the head at point blank range. Higor died instantly.
The attacker then walked inside a nearby restaurant, where he shot a 67 year old man. The man was later taken to a local hospital, but it’s said that he has passed away from the gunshot wound on Thursday.
The gunman was then chased by the locals and ran away to hide at a pizza parlor, taking three people hostage along the way. The police was able to arrest him, however, before he harmed more civilians.
