Former MMA fighter Arrested On Murder Charges

We’ve got a deeply tragic and complex story to unpack today, one that’s stirring up emotions and raising difficult questions about the cycle of violence and grief in our communities.

The story centers around Lumumba Sayers Sr., a former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and an outspoken advocate against gun violence. Sayers Sr. has spent years working to steer young people away from violence through his boxing gym and foundation, “Heavy Hands Heavy Hearts,” in Aurora, Colorado. He’s been a pillar of his community, helping to organize programs like “Gloves Up, Guns Down,” which encourage youth to choose boxing gloves over guns. But now, Sayers Sr. finds himself on the other side of the law, accused of murder.

Sayers Sr. was arrested for allegedly killing a man named Malcolm Watson at a child’s birthday party in Pioneer Park, Commerce City. The details are harrowing: according to witness accounts in an arrest affidavit, Sayers Sr. walked up to Watson and shot him in the head at close range, later trying to shoot him again with a second gun that reportedly jammed.

The motive? Witnesses suggest it was an act of revenge for the murder of Sayers Sr.’s son, Lumumba Sayers Jr., who was gunned down in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood last year.

The tragedy of Lumumba Sayers Jr.’s death hit the community hard. He was not only an MMA fighter like his father but also a dedicated advocate against gun violence, heavily involved in the same programs his father championed.

His murder, in a quadruple shooting, was a devastating blow to those who knew him and the cause he worked so hard to support. The man initially suspected in his murder, Tyrell Braxton, had the charges against him dismissed, which added another layer of anguish for the Sayers family.

For Sayers Sr., the loss of his son was a profound and deeply personal tragedy. He described his son as a leader, someone who was actively working to stop the very type of violence that ended his life. The grief and sense of injustice Sayers Sr. felt were palpable in the months following his son’s death. He openly lamented the irony and heartbreak of his son being killed by the violence they both sought to prevent.

Now, with Sayers Sr. accused of taking matters into his own hands, the community is grappling with the fallout. It’s a painful reminder of how deep and consuming grief can be, especially when compounded by a sense of helplessness and loss.

Community leaders like Topazz McBride, who owns the Aurora resource center Rediscovery Through Wellness, have spoken out about the need for ongoing support for those who are grieving. She emphasized that the mourning process doesn’t just end, and for someone like Sayers Sr., who was so deeply connected to his son, the grief might have been too overwhelming.

McBride and others are now focusing on how the community can move forward. They’re planning a trauma response event to bring people together, help them process this tragedy, and support each other in a healthy way. The goal is to maintain peace and prevent further hardening of hearts in a community already dealing with so much pain.