Former boxing champion and U.S. Olympian Vernon Forrest, aka “The Viper,” was shot and killed at age 38 last night in northwest Atlanta where he lived. WSB Radio news has reported early this morning that Forrest was working on his Jaguar at about 11 pm Saturday night when two males attempted to carjack him.
Lt. Keith Meadows, Atlanta police spokesman, told WSB Radio that the boxer had a gun and a brief foot chase ensued, ultimately exchanging gunfire which left the boxing champion shot in the head.
The suspects are described as “two black males driving a red [Chevrolet] Monte Carlo.” Investigators are interviewing witnesses, and no suspect(s) is/are in custody at this time.
Forrest’s girlfriend’s son is said to have been in the car at the time, but is apparently unhurt. The child’s family is coming up from Texas to retrieve him.
It’s suspected that Forrest was shot at least 7 or 8 times with a semi-automatic pistol.
Best known for his two fights with Shane Mosley, Forrest was a welterweight and light middleweight champion, compiling a 41-3-1 record along the way -- with 29 knockouts -- and was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team.
