Former UFC fighter sentenced to prison for vigilante shooting
For release on March 24, 2025
CONTACT:
Angela Bernhard
Assistant District Attorney
Felonies Unit
(408) 792-2820
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Former UFC fighter sentenced to prison for vigilante shooting
Cain Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison today, by the Honorable Arthur Bocanegra, for a vigilante shooting spree that wounded an unintended target and sprayed bullets near a school crowded with children, teachers, and parents. He was remanded into custody.
During a high-speed chase on crowded streets in 2022, the former UFC fighter fired a handgun multiple times at a truck carrying three people, including a man accused of molesting Velasquez’s relative.
Last year, Velasquez, 42, pleaded to attempted murder, a felony assault charge, and other related gun charges.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen said: “One man’s decision to take the law into his own hands left an innocent man wounded and endangered schoolchildren, teachers, and many others in our community. If you want to do justice in Santa Clara County, please apply for a badge.”
Velasquez began shooting at the victims at a Morgan Hill intersection. As they tried to flee, he rammed their vehicle and fired more rounds at them, striking the driver in the arm and right flank, severing his brachial artery, as they drove past the Charter School of Morgan Hill, which was letting out for the day.
During the 11-mile, high-speed chase that followed into the busy streets of San Jose, Velasquez fired multiple rounds with his registered .40 handgun.
His target was uninjured in the attack. Velasquez was stopped and arrested by Morgan Hill police.
Meanwhile, the intended victim, Harry Goularte, 46, continues to face pending felony child molestation charges. Goularte is out of custody after a judge released him on the supervised own recognizance release program with GPS monitoring over the District Attorney’s objections.
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