Former UFC fighter Cain Velasquez pleaded guilty Aug. 16 to multiple felony charges related to a 2022 vigilante high-speed chase and shooting spree through Morgan Hill that wounded an unintended target and endangered a nearby elementary school, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
During the vehicle chase that occurred during afternoon rush hour on Feb.28, 2022, Velasquez, 42, of Gilroy, fired a handgun multiple times at a truck that was carrying three people. One of those in the truck was Harry Goularte, who is accused of molesting a relative of Velasquez’s, according to authorities.
![](https://morganhilltimes.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/03/Velasquez_Cain-819x1024.jpg)
In an Aug. 16 hearing, Velasquez pleaded no contest to attempted murder, felony assault charges and other gun charges, the DAs office said. A sentencing date has not been scheduled. Velasquez faces prison time for the conviction on numerous felonies.
“This defendant decided to become judge, jury and executioner. His actions endangered innocent bystanders, including young children and their parents who could have been injured or killed as he shot at his intended victim,” DA Jeff Rosen said. “We have excellent law enforcement in this county. Let them do their jobs.”
On the day of the shooting spree, Velasquez was driving a Ford pickup truck when he saw a vehicle occupied by Goularte in the area of Cochrane Road and Butterfield Boulevard, according to authorities. Velasquez began shooting rounds from his registered .40-caliber handgun as he followed the Chevrolet pickup, which was being driven by Goularte’s stepfather. A female relative of Goularte was also in the Chevrolet.
Velasquez followed the Chevrolet into San Jose. During the 11-minute, high-speed pursuit, Velasquez rammed his truck into the Chevrolet and fired several more rounds at the Chevrolet and its occupants, with one of the bullets striking the driver, authorities said.
The collision and shooting occurred in the roadway just outside the Charter School of Morgan Hill campus, which was “crowded” with children, teachers and parents, according to the DA’s office.
Velasquez’s intended target—Goularte—was not struck by the gunfire and was uninjured. Authorities think Velasquez had intended to kill Goularte.
Shortly after the collision and gunfire outside the school, Velasquez was stopped and arrested by Morgan Hill Police, authorities said.
A search of Velasquez’s phone found searches for “sexual assault case where victims family fights back” and “sexual assault cases where victims family retaliates,” the DAs office said.
Goularte, 43, still faces pending felony child molestation charges in Santa Clara County Superior Court, authorities said. Goularte is out of custody after a judge released him on Feb. 25, 2022, with supervised conditions including GPS monitoring.
On the day of the shooting and vehicle chase, Goularte was on his way to acquire the GPS monitor from county probation officials, authorities said.
The DAs office had objected to Goularte’s release from custody.
Velasquez was a resident of Gilroy at the time of the crimes. He is a former heavyweight world champion in the UFC mixed martial arts fighting circuit. He moved to Gilroy in 2010, and had lived in Morgan Hill for about two years before that, according to a previous Gilroy Dispatch story about the former fighter and wrestler.
He twice won the UFC’s heavyweight division, with victories over other high-profile fighters including Junior dos Santos, Brock Lesnar and Antonio Silva. Velasquez has trained out of American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose.
Velasquez retired from UFC in 2019, and competed in professional wrestling after his retirement.
Hopefully he gets time served with the 9 months he was jailed and the GPS for the last 2 years.
Agreed! With counselling of course.
Our justice system is flawed. Letting a man walk out of a court room after pleading guilty to 10 violent felony counts is ridiculous. To take matters in your own hands BEFORE any investigation has even been done is reckless. He put many peoples lives in danger with his actions!
Get out of here – allowing a child molester to roam the community is a pure example of the flaw. What investigation needed to be done? Clearly you don’t have children and if you do your weakness as a father is a shame.
“Cain Velasquez pleaded no contest for defending his 5 year old child from the Owner of Day Care where his child was touched inappropriately…
After the molester was arrested for doing such a crime and at the release where Cain spotted the vehicle. Cain showed good accurate shooting aim shooting the driver. the driver being another individual that help run this day care. the driver helping a molester get away from his fate. Driver should be charged with helping a molester. The other passenger was the Mom of the molester that ran this daycare. Daycare center is now closed!
“Cain Velasquez should be rewarded for his brave act in helping the children in his community”
CHARGES AGAINST CAIN SHOULD BE DISMISSED!
If he where another race. and the daycare was ran by a Mexican family it would be National News. Father would have been deemed a hero!
****CAIN VELASQUEZ IS MY HERO********
*******CAIN VELASQUEZ IS MY HERO*******
Brown Berets…. A different attorney like the one who defended Johnny Depp.. thats the one you need Cain. If The community can share your time you are sentenced to i volunteer to help ill serve time for your reward winning act. You should be given keys to the city. BLM should be there by your side The Brown Berets, Nation of Islam with Louis Farrakhan, Motorcycle Clubs, the prison Gangs should get involved as much as they can. This is a National Problem…
Cain Velasquez reacted like any other parent would react if your Child was molested , Especially when you think your child is safe in Daycare…Mr Velasquez has done his time 9 months to be exact. While that disgusting Molester is still out on the streets.Thank God that Daycare is closed. Thank You Mr. Velasquez for exposing that Daycare.
My kids are being sexually abused, and the District Attorney (Jeff Rosen) is helping the people who are doing the abuse. This is because these people are highly connected and present a conflict of interest.
Instead of stopping the sexual abuse, Mr. Rosen has opted to file charges AGAINST ME. He is also allowing the people responsible to psychically assault me for
trying to protect my kids.
Please consider voting for someone else the next time that there is an election. Rosen is totally backwards.
Read more here:
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/272/404/301/district-attorney-jeffrey-rosen-please-stop-sex-trafficking-my-kids/