FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil, Jan. 21 (UPI) — Brazilian pro surfer Ricardo dos Santos died Tuesday after being fatally shot by an off duty police officer outside his home in Florianopolis. He was 24.
Dos Santos was reportedly shot three times in the chest on Monday after confronting the officer and another man while congregating on the beach near his home. Dos Santos was rushed to a nearby hospital where he underwent four operations before dying Tuesday afternoon.
One witness said dos Santos saw the two men doing drugs and asked them to leave, while another says they were discussing a parked at his property before the shooting. The officer, who has been detained but not yet charged with any criminal action, says he acted in self-defense.
Eleven-time ASP world champion and face of the sport Kelly Slater remembered dos Santos as “one of the great barrel riders of his short time.” Dos Santos first rose to prominence by eliminating Slater at a 2012 competition.
“He represented all of us very well and was very well recognized for his hard work and also was a very good person,” echoed Gabriel Medina, Brazil’s first surfing world champion, reports CNN.
“There are certain things that we do not understand.”
Slater called dos Santos’ death “senseless” in an Instagram post, adding that the shooting should bring increased attention to Brazil’s rapidly crumbling infrastructure and the country’s ensuing high rates of murder and overall crime.
“This was truly a senseless loss of life. It unfortunately brings to light the number of murders yearly in Brasil, officially documented at over 50,000 with many thousands more going unreported. Lack of education, poverty, and drugs don’t make for a good mix and make life challenging in this country, one of the most beautiful and scariest places I’ve been. Condolences to Ricardo’s friends and family around the world. Our small community has lost another way too soon.”
Brazil has the third highest murder rate in South America, according to the most recent study on global homicide statistics.
Ricardo dos Santos 1990 – 2015. Our thoughts are with Ricardo’s family. pic.twitter.com/5W9vuXfey5— World Surf League (@wsl) January 20, 2015
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