A former MMA fighter turned anti-gun advocate has been arrested after allegedly shooting and killing a man at a pool party in Colorado.
Lumumba Sayers, 46, was arrested Saturday after police say he killed Malcolm Watson, 28, during a children’s birthday party in Commerce City.
Sayers’ son, Lumumba Sayers Jr., was shot and killed last August in Denver and an arrest affidavit has been seen for News 9 suggesting that his actions were retaliation for his son.
According to the affidavit, witnesses saw Sayers Sr. “approach and shoot the victim in the head at point-blank range.”
The document continued: ‘Witnesses had stated that the shooter’s son He had been murdered about a year ago by a friend of the deceased and this murder was probably in retaliation or revenge.
Lumumba Sayers, 46, was arrested Saturday after police say he murdered Malcolm Weston, 28.
Sayers prepares to enter the cage before his fight with Derek Brunson at the Strikeforce event at the Sears Centre Arena on July 30, 2011 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
The outlet also spoke to Watson’s sister, who said the birthday party was for her own 5-year-old son.
She also protested her brother’s innocence and claimed he had nothing to do with the death of Sayers’ son.
She said: ‘How is it a revenge murder if my brother wasn’t the one who had anything to do with it?
His sister also described Watson as a man who wanted to be a great father and take care of his family, calling him a loving brother.
His sister described Watson as someone who wanted to be a great father and be close to his family and make sure his sisters were okay.
Sayers is well known in the local community for fighting youth violence and runs his own Heavy Hands Heavy Hearts gym to provide a safe space for children.
According to a profile of him published on News 9, Sayers opened the center a few years ago after seeing kids teaching each other how to make gang signs.
Speaking to the outlet, Sayers said: ‘I think creating a safe space like this keeps them away from violence because they don’t waste time, they have something to do.
Malcolm Watson’s sister has protested her brother’s innocence and claimed he had nothing to do with the death of Sayers’ son.
Sayers’ son, Lumumba Sayers Jr., was shot and killed last August in Denver and News 9 has seen an arrest affidavit suggesting his actions were retaliation for his son, seen here.
Sayers, seen here with his late son, is well known in the local community for fighting youth violence and runs his own Heavy Hands Heavy Hearts gym to provide a safe space for children.
He continued: ‘The reason I teach you self-love and self-esteem is because if you love yourself, no one can pressure you into doing something that will destroy you.
“I want them to understand that they are loved and to know that they love themselves. I want them to know that they have a place to go if they ever get into trouble.”
Talking with KDVR Following her son’s death last year, Sayer described him as a beacon of light in the community.
He said: ‘He was my best friend. He was my everything. He was a great father, a great older brother, everything you could ask for in a son.
‘My son touched a lot of lives. He touched a lot of people. He was there for a lot of people. He brought a lot of people who needed help to me.
“It’s the community that I come from, that we’ve been trying to help, that we’ve been doing things for, that killed my baby.”
Following Saturday’s shooting, Watson’s sister also added: ‘How can you be an activist and kill innocent people? Sayers is scheduled to appear in court on August 15.