The L.A. County Coroner has identified the body found on L.A.’s Venice Beach as ex-WWE superstar Shad Gaspard … TMZ Sports has learned.
The body was first seen on the beach by a citizen who called cops around 1:30 AM Wednesday … according to our law enforcement sources. We’re told officers responded and recovered the body right near Venice Pier.
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The L.A. Fire Department held a news conference Wednesday morning, saying the body matches the description of Shad … a 6’6″ black male over 240 lbs.
UPDATE: officials confirm description of pro wrestler Shad Gaspard matches that of the body discovered after washing up on shore in Venice Beach. @FOXLA @GDLA @LACoLifeguards 💔 pic.twitter.com/1EGKkglcNf
— Mario Ramirez (@MarioFOXLA) May 20, 2020
He went missing on Sunday afternoon when a group of swimmers, including Shad and his son, Aryeh, got caught in a rip current south of the Pier.
Shad heroically told lifeguards to focus on getting his 10-year-old son to shore safely, but when they returned he’d gone under.
Police and Coast Guard boats and divers searched the rough water for nearly 2 days before suspending their efforts.
Shad loved hanging out at the beach, and less than 2 weeks ago he’d posted a heartwarming vid walking through the sand and surf with Aryeh. Shad wrote, “Love the life I built for my self and my family.”
He was one-half of the popular WWE tag team, Cryme Time, along with his partner, JTG.
He was also a regular at the legendary Gold’s Gym in Venice, and as we learned firsthand … a truly great guy
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