Cain
Velasquez has been formally charged with attempted murder,
premeditated murder and other related charges after firing shots at
a vehicle containing three people in Morgan Hill, Calif.
The ex-UFC heavyweight champion is facing additional charges of
shooting at a motor vehicle or aircraft, assault with a firearm and
assault with a deadly weapon. According to a
statement from the Santa Clara County district attorney’s
office, the 39-year-old Velasquez fired a .40 handgun “multiple
times” into a truck carrying Harry Goularte and two of Goularte’s
older male relatives and “rammed” the vehicle with his truck.
Goularte’s relative, who is 63 years old, was struck once by the
shots but is expected to survive.
Velasquez, who was driving a Ford Truck, began shooting at the
vehicle at Cochran Road and Butterfield Boulevard in Morgan Hill at
approximately 3 p.m. local time Monday. What ensued was an 11-mile
chase through “busy streets” in San Jose between Velasquez and a
Chevy Silverado, driven by Goularte’s stepfather. During that
chase, Velasquez rammed his truck into the Silverado several times
and fired multiple rounds. Goularte was uninjured in the
attack.
Goularte
reportedly molested a relative of Velasquez’s at a home daycare
in San Martin, Calif., as many as “100 times.” The 43-year-old
Goularte had been charged with one felony count of a lewd and
lascivious act with a child under the age of 14 on Feb. 25. A judge
released him from custody without bail under the condition that he
remain on home detention in Morgan Hill, stay away from children
younger than 14 and wear an electronic ankle monitor – despite the
protests of the district attorney’s office. Goularte was on his way
to pick up the tracking device when Velasquez attacked the
vehicle.
“The sad tragedy is that Mr. Velasquez chose to take the law into
his own hands, endangering the public and everyone in the truck,”
DA Jeff Rosen said in a release. “This act of violence also causes
more pain and suffering to his family.”
Velasquez will be arraigned today at the Hall of Justice in San
Jose and could face incarceration if convicted.