Cops: Ex-UFC Champ Shot at Accused Molester

Cain Velasquez has now been charged in the case
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2022 2:00 AM CST
Updated Mar 3, 2022 12:29 AM CST
After Relative Alleged Molestation, Ex-UFC Champ Allegedly Shot at Suspect
Cain Velasquez   (Mug shot)

Update: Cain Velasquez was charged Wednesday with attempted murder and multiple gun assault crimes. Authorities say he engaged in a high-speed chase with a pickup truck in which Harry Goularte, a man accused of sexually abusing Velasquez's 4-year-old family member, was riding. He allegedly rammed the truck with his own truck multiple times and fired at it multiple times, the AP reports. It was not Goularte (who has been charged in the molestation case) who was hit, but rather the driver, Goularte's stepfather; he suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and torso. Our original story from Wednesday follows:

A former UFC heavyweight champion is accused of shooting someone Monday in California's Bay Area. Cain Velasquez was arrested and jailed on suspicion of attempted murder, CNN reports, but police haven't revealed much about the shooting. The adult male victim's injuries were not life-threatening. The 39-year-old suspect, a two-time champion, last fought in 2019. He's considered one of the top heavyweight fighters ever, ESPN reports. Since retiring from competition, he's been coaching and has also gotten involved in professional wrestling. He was a noted wrestler in college and then switched to mixed-martial arts.

The San Jose Mercury News, citing anonymous sources as well as court records, says one of Velasquez's underage relatives accused a man at a Bay Area home daycare of molestation. Harry Eugene Goularte, 43, who lives in the home where his mother runs a daycare, has been arrested and charged in the molestation case, but he was granted supervised release Friday. Sources say Velasquez fired on a car in which Goularte, his stepfather, and at least one other person were riding, and that it was the stepfather who was hit. Some of the fighters at his gym expressed surprise at the situation, calling Velasquez a "sweet" coach who never got angry. (More UFCW stories.)

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