LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles County coroner's office has just identified the body found near a lifeguard tower at Venice Beach Wednesday morning as that of former professional wrestler Shad Gaspard, who went missing Sunday in the waters off Venice Beach.


What You Need To Know


  • Body found at Venice Beach

  • LAFD says it matches description of missing swimmer

  • Coroner confirms body is ex-wrestler Shad Gaspard

  • His 10-year-old son was rescued from the water

Paramedics were summoned by Los Angeles police officers to an area near Lifeguard Tower 26 about 1:45 a.m., where they found the Gaspard's body, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

An officer at the Los Angeles Police Department's Pacific Division said an investigation immediately began to determine the man's identity, which has now been confirmed.

"Shad Gaspard was last seen by a Los Angeles County lifeguard about 3:40 p.m. (Sunday) as he swam in the ocean about 50 yards from Venice Beach in the county of Los Angeles,'' a Los Angeles Police Department statement said. "When last seen by the lifeguard, a wave had crashed over (him) and he was swept out to sea.''

The incident occurred near the 4200 block of S. Ocean Front Walk, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. County lifeguards pulled Gaspard's 10-year-old son from the water. He was evaluated by LAFD paramedics but did not require hospitalization.

The elder Gaspard, however, was nowhere to be found, prompting divers to begin a search of the water. Underwater searches for Gaspard were conducted on Sunday and Monday.

On Tuesday, the LAPD listed the case as a missing-persons investigation. Gaspard was a star with World Wrestling Entertainment, making up one half of the tag team Cryme Time with his partner JTG.