Famous MMA fighter claims he acted in self-defense after shooting man in parking dispute

A former mixed martial arts fighter is claiming self-defense after police say he shot a man during a dispute over a parking space.

On Saturday, former boxer Shannon Ritch got into an argument with Alejandro Samplina in a Phoenix parking lot, authorities told Fox 10 Phoenix. No details were released about what led to the altercation.

Ritch, 53, told officers Samplina chased him around his car with a knife. Ritch then took a gun from his car and shot Samplina, Phoenix police Sergeant Mayra Reeson told Fox 10.

The 32-year-old was taken to a hospital in Arizona, where he later died.

Ritch remained at the scene and told police he shot Samplina in self-defense, which Reeson said was “consistent with witness statements and surveillance video,” Fox 10 reports. As a result, Ritch is no longer in custody, according to Fox 10, and police will file charges with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

According to his Instagram, the former MMA fighter had just returned from a trip to a fight in Doha, Qatar.

“Just landed in Phoenix, Arizona from a long, long trip to Doha, Qatar,” Ritch said in an Instagram video posted on June 11. “I’ve been up for about 40 hours.”

According to ESPN, Ritch, nicknamed “The Cannon,” last fought professionally in 2019. The 53-year-old, who has over 53,000 followers on Instagram, is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild and a stunt performer.

Ritch won several titles during his MMA career, including the King of the Cage Middleweight Championship and the BKFC International Heavyweight Champion in bare-knuckle boxing.