UFC legend Cain Velasquez shoots man who allegedly molested minor relative of his
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has reportedly been charged with attempted murder in California after he was involved in the non-fatal shooting of a man who was recently charged with molesting a young relative of the fighter.
39-year-old Velasquez was remanded in custody without bail ahead of his first court date on Wednesday, March 2. According to court records and sources with knowledge of the case, Velasquez's unnamed relative reported being molested by a man at a home daycare center in San Martin, north of Velasquez's hometown Salinas. The victim's name and exact relationship with the former UFC champ have been kept confidential owing to the child's status as a minor and a sexual abuse victim.
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A criminal complaint charged 43-year-old Harry Eugene Goularte with one felony count of a lewd and lascivious act with a child under the age of 14. Goularte runs a daycare business with his mother while residing with her, per the complaint. The accused was arraigned in front of a judge on Friday, February 25, before he was granted release under supervision following objections from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
San Jose Police announced a shooting at about 3.15 pm on Monday, February 28, near the intersection of Monterey Highway and Bailey Avenue before revealing Velasquez's arrest on Twitter the following day. They said Velasquez allegedly opened fire at a vehicle carrying Goularte, his stepfather, and at least one other person.
3/ Units have cleared the intersection of Monterey Hwy and Bailey Ave. Traffic has been reopened.
— San José Police Media Relations (@SJPD_PIO) March 1, 2022
"Cain Velasquez was the suspect arrested yesterday in connection with this incident," San Jose police revealed in the tweet. "He was booked into Santa Clara County main jail for attempted murder. The motive and circumstances surrounding this incident are still under investigation at this time." Authorities said Goularte's stepfather was hit at least once and was rushed to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. He is expected to survive, they said.
4/ Cain Velasquez was the suspect arrested yesterday in connection with this incident. He was booked into Santa Clara County main jail for attempted murder.
— San José Police Media Relations (@SJPD_PIO) March 1, 2022
The motive and circumstances surrounding this incident are still under investigation at this time. pic.twitter.com/bBuuPQytNx
Velasquez is a two-time UFC heavyweight champion. He first won the title in 2010, lost it the following year, regained it in 2012, and defended it until 2015. He announced his retirement in 2019 following a 26-second knockout defeat to current heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou on February 17 that year. He has since wrestled in the WWE and in Mexico, although his primary focus has been on training other fighters at his home gym in San Jose.
Velasquez, who is now a married father of two, was born in Salinas, California, and raised in Yuma, Arizona. He was a star wrestler in high school and even won a couple of state championships. The fighter would later win the reputed NJCAA national title while wrestling at Iowa Central Community College. He eventually transferred to Arizona State, where he scored a record of 86–17 for the Sun Devils. According to the Daily Mail, Velasquez first met and worked with future UFC fighters -- including C. B. Dollaway and Ryan Bader -- at ASU in Tempe. He subsequently developed an interest in Jiu-Jitsu and made his way over to the top MMA franchise in 2006.