Martial arts fighter shot twice in bum by ‘coward’ extremely at soccer match
A former MMA and Muay Thai champion was shot twice at a football match by a suspected football ultra labelled a “coward” over the vicious attack
Martial arts fighter Bruce Souto was shot twice in the bottom at a football match
A martial arts fighter was shot twice in the bottom by an ultra hooligan at a football match.
Bruce Souto was shot as he left the pitch following an amateur match between two branches of the same ultras firm. The former Professional Fighters League (PFL) light-heavyweight and a Muay Thai champion survived the attack after an internal Galoucura tournament in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Galoucura is the main ultra firm of the Brazilian top flight club Atlético Mineiro. Souto was helping pack up boxes when the suspect reportedly came down the steps. The man is said to have asked: “Do you have a problem with me?”
Martial arts fighter Bruce Souto was shot twice at a football match
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According to the police, he then pulled out a revolver and Souto ran away. The suspect emptied the gun while chasing after him.
The police said he was shot twice in the buttocks. Souto was treated at the João XXIII Hospital after the shooting on July 9 and was later discharged.
A post on his Instagram page said: “Guys, Bruce is fine, thank God. He’s out of danger.
“We are thankful, from our hearts, to all the people who have been praying and sending messages of support.
Bruce Souto’s injury from the shooting
“We trust in the justice system and believe that the responsible party will answer for everything he did. He won’t go unpunished.”
Souto told the police that he believed a video he posted online had angered a rival faction inside the ultra group.
His team called the attacker a “coward” and named him online as Marcos Vinicius Oliveira de Melo, 37, also known as Vinicin da Galoucura.
He was arrested in Santa Tereza on August 30, after a police warrant was issued.
Shooting victim Bruce Souto is an MMA champion(Image: Jam Press)
Officers stopped him as he left an address with his mother. Two phones were found on his person, as reported by NeedToKnow.
The Minas Gerais public prosecutor’s office has charged him with attempted homicide. Police said the attack was not linked to drug gangs.
It is being treated as a personal row inside the football firm. Souto said he had known the man for over 20 years.
Bruce Souto and partner
They had studied together and trained at the same fight gym.
Souto, a regional director of the Minas Gerais Muay Thai Federation, welcomed the arrest and asked what was on the seized phones.
The suspect remains in police custody as the investigation continues.
