Editor’s note: The article has been updated at 1 p.m. ET on May
5 to add additional information including the identity of the
shooter as well as his arrest and charging.
Ex-Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Jorge
Masvidal is in the headlines again, but not for something he
caused.
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According to an initial report from Fox
Sports 640AM South Florida on Thursday afternoon, a shooting
took place at Masvidal’s house earlier on Thursday. Per the report,
and later confirmed by multiple outlets including
TMZ, Masvidal’s father, Jorge Masvidal Sr., allegedly shot
another person during an argument. The early details of the
incident were brought to light by local news outlets, including
WPLG Local 10 in Miami. The retired fighter was not at his
house at the time, as he is preparing to run a Gamebred bareknuckle
event on Friday.
The Miami-Dade Police issued a statement to
MMA Fighting, although it did not identify the parties. The
arrest affidavit obtained by
TMZ stated that Masvidal’s father was at the house with a man
named Luis Leoncini, and the latter told police on the scene that
the 67-year-old Masvidal shot him.
“According to the victim,” the statement received by MMA Fighting
wrote, “he was involved in an argument that escalated when the
subject produced a firearm and shot him. The adult male victim was
transported to the hospital in stable condition…The relationship
between all the parties on the scene has not been confirmed,
however, all parties know each other. The listed owner of the
residence is Jorge
Masvidal Jr. He was not present during the incident and did not
have any involvement.”
At the incident’s conclusion, only Leoncini suffered injuries,
having been shot in the upper body two times. Emergency response
members were treating Leoncini when the Miami-Dade Police officers
arrived on the scene. Masvidal came home upon hearing the news, as
he was not there during the shooting. Masvidal Sr. was booked by
the Miami-Dade Police early Friday morning, according to the county
arrest records. He has been charged with attempted second degree
murder with a deadly weapon. Police reportedly found a .38 caliber
revolver in the kitchen, but did not confirm that it was involved
in the shooting.