Cain Velasquez. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Cain Velasquez charged with attempted murder after trying to shoot alleged child molester

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 3/2/22

Former UFC fighter Cain Velasquez has been formally charged with attempted premeditated murder, multiple sources reported on Wednesday. The former heavyweight champion was attempting to shoot an alleged child molester when he struck someone else, court documents revealed on Wednesday via ABC 7 News in San Francisco.

Velasquez, 39, was arrested in San Jose on Monday after shooting into a car and striking a passenger. That person is expected to survive. The intended target, 43-year-old Harry Goularte, is facing felony charges for reportedly molesting a child relative of Velasquez's.

Velasquez was targeting a man who has been charged with molesting one of Velasquez’s young relatives, but the former UFC heavyweight champion shot the man’s stepfather instead, per the DA. Velasquez will be arraigned this afternoon.
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) March 2, 2022

According to ABC's report, Goularte was arraigned in Santa Clara County Superior Court on February 25 and released under the conditions he stays on house arrest in nearby Morgan Hill. Goularte was reportedly en route to get a monitoring bracelet as part of his release conditions when Velasquez followed him and shot into his car.

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said Velasquez's action "causes more pain and suffering" for his family.

Santa Clara County DA Jeff Rosen: “The sad tragedy is that Mr. Velasquez chose to take the law into his own hands, endangering the public and everyone in the truck. This act of violence also causes more pain and suffering to his family.”
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) March 2, 2022