UPDATED: Prosecutor’s Office Releases Statement On Cain Velasquez Shooting, Charges

UPDATE: The Santa Clarita Prosecutor’s Office has now issued a statement on the charges filed against Cain Velasquez for his alleged shooting of a man related to the man charged with molesting Velasquez’s relative. The office issued a press release on the situation, noting that Velasquez will be arraigned this afternoon on charges.

The announcement notes that the main charge is “attempted, premeditated murder” and note that Velasquez engaged in a high speed chase through the streets after initially shooting at the car. The man Velasquez was trying to kill, Harry Goularte, was on his way to get the monitoring bracelet that was a condition of his release pending trial.

You can see the full press release, which includes a statement by the DA, below:

Former UFC Fighter Charged with Shooting Relative of Child Abuse Suspect
Former UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, will be arraigned this afternoon for shooting a man in an attempt to murder another man who has been charged with molesting Velasquez’s close family member.

Velasquez, 39, fired a handgun multiple times into a truck carrying Harry Goularte, and two older relatives and rammed the truck with his truck. Goularte’s male relative, 63, was struck once, but expected to survive.

Velasquez is charged with attempted, premeditated murder, and other related charges. He will be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. in Department 23 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. He could face incarceration if convicted.

“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. “This act of violence also causes more pain and suffering to his family.”

Velasquez began shooting at the victims at Cochran Road and Butterfield Boulevard in Morgan Hill around 3:00 p.m. Monday. Velasquez, driving a Ford truck, followed the victims’ Chevrolet Silverado truck, driven by Goularte’s stepfather. During the 11-mile, high speed chase through busy streets into San Jose, Velasquez rammed his truck into the Silverado and fired multiple rounds with his registered .40 handgun. A female passenger in the Silverado called 911 for help.

Goularte was uninjured in the attack. Velasquez was stopped and arrested by Morgan Hill police near Madrone Avenue in San Jose.

Goularte, 43, is facing felony charges that he molested a child. He was arraigned in Santa Clara County Superior Court on February 25. A judge released him from custody without bail over the District Attorney’s objections. He was released under the conditions that he stay in home detention in Morgan Hill, stay 100 yards away from any child under 14, and wear an electronic monitoring bracelet. Goularte was on his way to get the monitor when Cain attacked.

ORIGINAL: New details have come out regarding Cain Velasquez’s alleged shooting of a man following reported charges of molestation against a close relative of the WWE and UFC alumnus. As previously reported Velasquez was arrested on suspicion of the shooting on Monday, an incident that came after a 43 year-old man named Harry Goularte was charged with a felony count of allegedly molesting Velasquez’s relative. Goularte had been given a supervised release pending trial.

According to TMZ, court records show that Velasquez allegedly followed Goularte along with the man’s mother and stepfather from their home in San Martin, California. He was driving a black Ford F-250 and began shooting at the Chevy Silvarado being driven by Goularte’s stepfather.

Velasquez then reportedly rammed the car with his truck and eventually shot some more times. The stepfather was hit, though Goularte was not. Police were called and Velasquez left the scene. When police found him he pulled over and was taken into custody without incident. Police found a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun and two magazines which held 10 bullets each. A total of eight bullets were missing.

Velasquez has been charged with 10 charges in total including 1st degree attempted murder, several charges of assault with a deadly weapon, shooting an occupied motor vehicle, and more. He potentially faces decades in prison if convicted.