Strikeforce veteran found guilty of second-degree murder in Colorado

Lumumba Sayers went 6-5 during his professional MMA career. | Isaac Hinds

Former Strikeforce competitor Lumumba Sayers was found guilty of murder and other charges on Monday, according to a statement by the Adams & Broomfield Colorado District Attorney's Office.

An Adams County jury found Sayers guilty of second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and attempt to commit tampering with physical evidence in relation to the fatal shooting of Malcolm Watson in Commerce City, Colorado, on August 10, 2024. Sayers is scheduled for sentencing with Judge Jeffrey Ruff on July 24.

According to Denver7, Sayers testified that he did not shoot or kill Watson, but he did admit to carrying a gun with out concealed carry license. Meanwhile, the Denver Post reports that Sayers gun was never fired that day. Investigators believe that the gun used to kill Watson was “an untraceable 3-D printed or kit-built ghost gun.” That weapon has not been recovered.

Sayers allegedly shot Watson to avenge the death of his son, Lumumba Sayers Jr. According to an arrest affadavit, Sayers approached a man and shot him in the head at a child’s birthday party at Pioneer Park in Commerce City The victim was identified as Watson, who was believed to have been a friend of the man accused of killing Sayers’ son in 2023. According to witness accounts, Sayers allegedly walked back to the man’s body and attempted to shoot him again, but the gun “jammed.” Witnesses also claimed that Sayers removed a set of keys from Watson’s pocket and attempted to plant a gun near his body.

Tyrell Braxton was arrested in connection with the death of Sayers’ son, but the murder case has since been dismissed. The exact nature of the relationship between Watson and Braxton is unclear.

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