March 5, 2022
Former UFC champion Cain Velasquez has been formally charged after allegedly trying to kill a man accused of molesting one of his young relatives.
The 39-year-old heavyweight champion was arraigned on Wednesday “for shooting a man in an attempt to murder another man who has been charged with molesting Velasquez’s close family member,” according to a statement from the Santa Clara County District Attorney.
Velasquez had been arrested at the scene of a Bay Area shooting on Monday, and booked into Santa Clara County jail for attempted murder, according to the San José Police Department.
The district attorney’s office claims that Velasquez “fired a handgun multiple times into a truck carrying Harry Goularte, and two older relatives and rammed the truck with his truck.”
Goularte’s 63-year-old relative, identified as his stepfather, was struck once and he is expected to survive. He was the driver of the truck, a Silverado.
Velasquez allegedly began shooting at the victims while driving, following the victims’ truck for 11 miles. The pursuit became a “high speed chase through busy streets into San Jose,” before authorities say Velasquez “rammed his truck into the Silverado and fired multiple rounds with his registered .40 handgun.” A woman inside the truck called 911 for help.
Velasquez has been hit with 10 felony charges, including attempted, premeditated murder, one count of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, three counts of assault with a firearm, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of willfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle and one count carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony.