A former MMA fighter turned anti-gun activist has been arrested after allegedly shooting a man to death at a Colorado pool party.
Lumumba Sayers, 46, was arrested Saturday after police say he killed 28-year-old Malcolm Watson at a children’s party in Commerce City.
Sayers’ son, Lumumba Sayers Jr., was shot to death in Denver last August, with an arrest affidavit issued by News 9 suggesting that his actions were in retaliation for his son.
According to the affidavit, witnesses saw Sayers Sr. “walk up close to the victim and shoot him in the head.”
The document continued: ‘Witnesses had stated that [shooter’s son 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 taken into custody on Saturday after police say he murdered 28-year-old Malcolm Weston
Sayers prepares to enter the cage before his bout with Derek Brunson at the Strikeforce event at Sears Centre Arena on July 30, 2011 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
The outlet also spoke to Watson’s sister who said the birthday party had been for his 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 killing if my brother isn’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 care for his family, calling him a loving brother.
His sister described Watson as someone who wanted to be a great father and be around his family and make sure his sisters were all fine.
Sayers is well known in the local community for fighting against youth violence and runs his own gym Heavy Hands Heavy Hearts to give kids a safe space.
According to a profile on him by News 9, Sayers opened the center a few years ago to after he saw kids teaching each other how to throw up gang signs.
Speaking to the outlet, Sayers said: ‘I think creating a safe space like this keeps them away from violence because their time isn’t idled. 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 with an arrest affidavit seen by News 9 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 against youth violence and runs his own gym Heavy Hands Heavy Hearts to give kids a safe space
He continued: ‘The reason I teach them self-love and self-appreciation is because, if you love yourself, no one can push you into doing something to destroy yourself.
‘I want them to understand that they are loved and I want them to know that they love themselves. I want them to know that they have a place to turn to if they are ever in trouble.’
Speaking with KDVR following the death of his son last year, Sayer described his son as being a beacon of light in the community.
He said: ‘He was my best friend. He was my everything. He was a great father, great big 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 came from, that we’ve been trying to help, that we’ve been doing things for, that killed my baby.’
Following the shooting on Saturday, Watson’s sister also added: ‘How are you an activist, murdering innocent people.’ Sayers has a court appearance on August 15.