Longtime mixed martial arts veteran Shannon Ricci shot and killed a man during an altercation in a parking lot outside a Phoenix restaurant, Fox 10 Phoenix reports.
According to a police investigation, Ricci, 53, and Alejandro Sampurina, 32, had a confrontation over parking outside Twin Peaks on June 15. Ricci allegedly shot and killed Sampurina after he claimed Sampurina had been chasing him around his car with a knife.
“Ricci was able to retrieve a handgun from the open door of the vehicle. Sampurina walked toward Rich in a threatening manner while holding a knife. In response, Rich fired one shot, striking Sampurina,” Phoenix Police Sergeant Myra Leeson told Fox 10.
Sampurina reportedly died at a local hospital, and police released Ricci after he “claimed self-defense consistent with witness and security footage.” The exact nature of that claim remains unclear.
Ricci made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 1998 and has a record of 58 wins, 88 losses, and 4 no contests over the course of his lengthy career. During his tenure, “The Cannon” has competed in a myriad of promotions, including Pride Fighting Championship, King of the Cage, Pancrase, and M-1 Global. The Arizona native has faced off against others such as Eve Edwards, Jake Shields, Kazushi Sakuraba, Dan Severn, and Joe Riggs.
Ricci last competed in professional MMA in January 2020, when he suffered a 26-second submission loss to Glenn Sparve at a Rebel FC event in Moscow.
