Former boxing champion Besar Nimani was reportedly gunned down in a brazen shooting Saturday in Germany at the age of 38.
The famous athlete was leaving a cafe when 10 shots were fired, according to TMZ. Bielefeld police reportedly released a statement saying, “According to the current findings, the man from Bielefeld was in the area near ‘Obernstrasse’ near ‘Klasingstrasse’ around 18:00.”
He was pronounced dead on-scene, TMZ reported. Police have launched an investigation to determine what transpired. There appears to have been no suspect information released at this time.
“One or more perpetrators approached and shot the victim,” police said in a statement, according to Daily Mail. “The man from Bielefeld, who was a Kosovar citizen, died at the scene due to the great wounds he received.”
“A major police operation is currently underway in the Bielefeld city area. The search for the perpetrator follows,” police said.
Nimani’s brother paid tribute to his brother on social media shortly after his death was announced.
“My brother Besar Nimani was killed today in an ambush in Bielefeld, Germany. May God join us in heaven with him. I will forever be proud of you, I love you,” he wrote, according to Daily Mail.
Nimani was an Albanian fighter from Kosovo and had moved to Germany to escape the Kosovo war in 1997. He made his mark in boxing by defeating his opponents in 26 out of 27 professional fights. He snagged the IBF European Super welterweight title before retiring from boxing in 2019 after winning by TKO, according to Daily Mail.
Nimani had previously been involved in a shooting that resulted in injury, but it is not yet clear if the two incidents are related in any way. (RELATED: Video Appears To Show Guns Being Pulled, Fight Breaking Out On Speed Dating Show Set)
The investigation into his murder is ongoing.