Brazilian professional surfer Ricardo Dos Santos was shot three times in the chest and stomach on Monday morning near Guarda do Emba煤, a beach south of Florian贸polis in Brazil. He died Tuesday.
Dos Santos had been in surgery for more than seven hours and was medically induced into a coma, his manager, Andrei Malhado, .
Dos Santos, 24, won the 2012 trials. He was a renowned tube-rider and goofyfoot who took the contest from Jordy Smith, Taj Burrow and Kelly Slater.
Billabong, Dos Santos’s sponsor, issued a statement following Dos Santos鈥 death, : “Ricardo was a loving brother, son, friend, and grandson. When not traveling the globe in search of giant barrels, Ricardo spent time at home helping around the house and surfing with local groms. He was also a proud Brazilian who supported his local community. His stoke for his homeland could be felt even as he traveled the globe, telling stories of his time at home with close friends. While we mourn this tragedy, we must remember to celebrate and honor Ricardo鈥檚 incredible life, and hope it influences the next generation to live a life full of hard work, enthusiasm, and generosity.鈥
Witnesses to the shooting have provided different stories about how the altercation unfolded. Some sources say that Dos Santos confronted a group of people who were using drugs and listening to music near his house. Others allege that Dos Santos was working on his house when a car parked on top of a pipe running to the home; Dos Santos was shot when he asked them to leave.
Two suspects have been arrested: 25-year-old off-duty soldier named Luiz Paulo Mota Brentano and his 17-year old brother. Brentano has a history of abuse and brutality, .