Cain Velasquez formally charged with attempted premeditated murder

Former UFC and WWE star Cain Velasquez was formally charged Wednesday with attempted premediatated murder and nine other charges.

ESPN reported that Velasquez has been charged with one count of attempted premeditated murder, shooting at an occupied motor vehicle or aircraft, three counts of assault with a firearm, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, willfully disccharging a firearm from a vehicle, and carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony. Velasquez was scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, but the arraignment was continued until Monday morning where there will also be a bail hearing. 

Velasquez is accused of targeting Harry Eugene Goularte, who was charged on Friday with allegedly molesting one of Velasquez’s relatives who is under ten years old. On Monday, Velasquez allegedly followed Goularte’s truck and engaged in a 11-mile, high speed chase throughout San Jose. He rammed Goularte’s truck, then shot a 40-caliber handgun repeatedly into the truck, striking Goularte’s stepfather, 63-year-old Paul Bender. Bender was shot once in the arm and torso, but is expected to survive.

“The sad tragedy is that Mr. Velasquez chose to take the law into his own hands, endangering the public and everyone in the truck,” district attorney Jeff Rosen said in a press release. “This act of violence also causes more pain and suffering to his family.”

Velasquez is currently being held without bail at the Santa Clara County Main Jail North in San Jose, California.