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Boxing Champ Vernon Forrest Shot Dead

'The Viper' shot after gunpoint robbery: police

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 27, 2009 6:13 AM CDT

(Newser) – Former pro boxer Vernon “the Viper” Forrest was shot and killed Saturday night in a skirmish after he was robbed, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Forrest had stopped at a gas station to fill his tires with air when a man robbed him at gunpoint. The armed ex-fighter chased the mugger, and was shot seven to eight times in the back in an ensuing gunfight. Evidence suggested Forrest also used his weapon, police said.

"I trained a lot of kids," says Forrest's former trainer. "They’re all good role models. They understand what life is about. They take care of their family. Vernon was like that. He took care of his mother, his sister, his son. He took care of his friends. How can something like this happen? Just in the wrong place at the wrong time—that’s all it was."

In this Jan. 26, 2002 file photo,Vernon Forrest of Atlanta, Ga., celebrates his 12-round unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosely for the WBC World Welterweight Championship.
In this Jan. 26, 2002 file photo,Vernon Forrest of Atlanta, Ga., celebrates his 12-round unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosely for the WBC World Welterweight Championship.   (AP Photo/Jeff Zelevansky)
In this Sept. 13, 2008 file photo, Vernon Forrest, left, lands a body blow to Sergio Mora in the seventh round of their WBC super welterweight title boxing match in Las Vegas.
In this Sept. 13, 2008 file photo, Vernon Forrest, left, lands a body blow to Sergio Mora in the seventh round of their WBC super welterweight title boxing match in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
In this July 26, 2007 file photo, boxer Vernon Forrest smiles as he answers questions during a news conference in Tacoma, Wash.
In this July 26, 2007 file photo, boxer Vernon Forrest smiles as he answers questions during a news conference in Tacoma, Wash.   (AP Photo/John Froschauer, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
youngblood
Sep 2, 2009 10:19 AM CDT
First thing I ever learned about getting robbed for money by my parents was "give it to them, you can always get more money but you can't get another life!"
Shannonals
Jul 28, 2009 4:12 AM CDT
Now that you mention it, there have been several deaths of boxers lately.
The_Pinkston
Jul 27, 2009 11:51 AM CDT
Did they catch the guy that shot him? No mention of that.

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