Legal issues[edit]
On February 28, 2022, Velasquez allegedly shot at a man in
Santa Clara County, California and hit an unintended victim. The man who Velasquez shot at, Harry Goularte Jr., had been arrested prior to the shooting for allegedly committing
child sexual abuse acts at a daycare attended by one of Velasquez's young relatives. Goularte was later released from custody on a personal recognizance
bond.
[85][86] An armed Velasquez allegedly chased after a vehicle that contained Goularte Jr., his stepfather, and mother. Velasquez was alleged to have rammed the vehicle before pulling out his firearm and shooting at the man through the window but missed, and instead hit the man's stepfather and caused him non-life threatening injuries.
[87]
Velasquez was later arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County jail on an attempted
first-degree murder charge. In court on March 2, Velasquez was formally charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, as well as several additional charges including one count of shooting at a motor vehicle, three counts of assault with a firearm, three counts of
assault with a deadly weapon, one count of willfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle, and one count of carrying a loaded firearm with
intent to commit a felony.
[9][88][89][90] On March 7, Velasquez was denied
bail after the judge determined the "risk is too great" for Velasquez to potentially cause more issues to the public.
[91] Velasquez's lawyer,
Mark Geragos, presented 37 letters of support for Velasquez from people such as
Dana White,
Khabib Nurmagomedov,
Fabricio Werdum,
Kelvin Gastelum,
Henry Cejudo,
Daniel Cormier,
Cung Le,
Islam Makhachev and
Scott Coker.
[92] On April 12, 2022, the judge granted continuance until May 6 for a plea hearing.
[93] On May 16, Velasquez was denied bail a second time, with the judge citing his "reckless disregard for human life".
[94]