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Police in Colorado have charged a former MMA fighter who campaigns against gun violence with murder after he allegedly shot a man in the head in front of horrified guests at a child’s birthday party.
On Saturday, 46-year-old Lumumba Sayers was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and felony threatening in connection with the alleged shooting in Commerce City, Colorado.
The shooting occurred in Pioneer Park during a children’s pool party, according to an affidavit cited by 9NewsWitnesses quoted in the filing say they saw Sayers “walk toward the victim and shoot him in the head at close range.”
According to the affidavit, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering three gunshot wounds.
Sayers’ son was killed about a year ago by a friend of Malcolm Watson, the 28-year-old man who was shot dead on Saturday.
In the arrest affidavit, this connection is mentioned as a possible motive for the shooting.
“Witnesses had stated that he (the shooter’s son) had been murdered by a friend of the deceased approximately one year ago … and that this murder was likely an act of retaliation or revenge,” the affidavit states.
Lumumba Sayers Jr., Sayers’ son, was also an MMA fighter and anti-gun activist like his father. He and another man were killed in a quadruple shooting on August 19, 2023, according to Denver 7 News.
The suspect in that case, Tyrell Braxton, was arrested and charged with murder. His murder case has since been dismissed, according to court records. Braxton still faces federal charges of illegal possession of ammunition in connection with the shooting.
Witnesses told police that Sayers allegedly tried to shoot Watson again with a second gun, but it jammed. They also said he allegedly took keys from Watson’s body and tried to plant a gun on him.
Watson’s sister told 9Newsa local station that the birthday party was for Watson’s five-year-old son. She said her brother was innocent and had nothing to do with the murder of Sayers’ son.
She described her brother as a loving brother and a man who wanted to be a great father.
Sayers had previously campaigned against gun violence. In 2021, he opened a gym in Aurora to serve as a safe place for children.
He told 9News at the time that he wanted to use the space as a place where young people could resolve their differences in a safe and constructive environment rather than resorting to violence.
Watson’s sister mentioned Sayers’ activist work in conversation with 9News.
“How can you be an activist who murders innocent people,” she said.
Topass McBride, the owner of Rediscovery Through Wellness in Aurora, who knows Sayers, said Denver 7 News that the father was “still in the dark” about his son’s death.
“When someone goes through something like that, they need ongoing support during the grieving process, the grief doesn’t go away,” McBride said. “People have their own lives and so they start to return to their own sense of normalcy, which wasn’t necessarily the case with Lumumba.”
She said she and other community leaders plan to organize a trauma support event for the shooting victims.
Sayers’ first court date is scheduled for August 15. He is currently being held at the Adams County Detention Facility.
