Police in Bakersfield California have issued a press release reporting that MMA heavyweight prospect Lavar Johnson, a verteran of the WEC, Strikeforce and Palace Fighting Championship, was shot twice at 12:34 am PST on July 5. According to Johnson’s manager Bob Cook, the fighter was “between serious and critical condition” Sunday night.
The shooting apparently occurred while Johnson was attending a family reunion. An unidentified assailant, described as a black male in his early teens, had apparently walked by the residence several times before firing a semi-automatic hand gun into the crowd. Three others were rushed to local hospitals while another, Anthony Mack Johnson, died on the scene. Police are classifying this as an ongoing investigation and have yet to release any further details.
"It's such an unfortunate situation," said Mike Afromowitz, Strikeforce Director of Communications. "Lavar is an amazing fighter, and he is also one of the nicest guys you could ever meet."
Johnson has been on a tear of late, rattling off five straight wins. His most recent of which was a knock out victory over Carl Seumanutafa. According to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, Johnson was currently in the middle of negotiating a fight that would have seen him face off against James Thompson at Strikeforce’s August 15th event. Johnson is scheduled to undergo surgery Sunday night
News Update by Travis Fleming
Travis Fleming is a fight sports writer of ConvictedArtist.com living in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
