Lumumba Sayers, a Strikeforce and BKFC veteran, was arrested on murder charges for allegedly shooting a man at a child’s birthday party in retaliation for his son’s death.
Strikeforce and BKFC veteran Lumumba Sayers has been arrested on murder charges. He allegedly gunned down a man to avenge his son’s death.
An arrest affidavit, first obtained by Denver7 on Monday, provides more details. Sayers was arrested this past Saturday after he allegedly approached a man at a child’s birthday party and shot him in the head. The incident took place at Pioneer Park in Commerce City.
Currently, Sayers is in custody in Adams County, Colo., facing first-degree murder and felony menacing charges. He’s being held on a $1 million bond, according to court records obtained by MMA Fighting. His next court hearing? Scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 a.m. local time.
The victim, identified as Malcolm Watson, 28, is believed to be a friend of a man previously accused of killing Sayers’ son in August 2023. Tyrell Braxton was later arrested in connection with the killing of Sayers’ son but charges were eventually dismissed.
The arrest affidavit involving Sayers states that “this murder was probably in retaliation or revenge.” However, it doesn’t detail a further connection between Watson and Braxton.
According to the report, Watson was at a birthday party when a witness claimed that Sayers walked up and shot him “in the head at close range.”
Sayers allegedly went back to Watson’s body and attempted to shoot him a second time but his gun “jammed.”
Witnesses claimed that Sayers then took some keys from Watson’s pocket. He allegedly attempted to plant a gun near Watson’s body.
Sayers was reportedly despondent following his son’s death. They had both worked tirelessly together on a program to help at-risk youths avoid violence in the community.
The now 46-year-old veteran fought as recently as March at a BKFC event in Denver. In his MMA career, Sayers is best known for his time with Strikeforce where he fought notable names like Anthony Smith, Derek Brunson, and Scott Smith.