Jorge Masvidal Sr., the father of recently retired UFC star Jorge Masvidal, has been arrested for attempted murder after allegedly shooting a man at his son’s Miami-area home on Thursday afternoon.
According to arrest records, Masvidal Sr. was booked at 1:33 a.m. Friday following accusations that he opened fire on Luis Leoncini, wounding both of the victim’s arms. The incident reportedly occurred near the kitchen of the younger Masvidal’s house about 12 hours prior.
Jorge Masvidal's Dad Arrested For Attempted Murder After Shooting At Fighter's Home https://t.co/sN1cjWf1Fo
— TMZ (@TMZ) May 5, 2023
Based on the arrest affidavit filed with the court, Masvidal Sr. and Leoncini engaged in a verbal argument at the Florida residence. Authorities stated that Leoncini informed the police that the elder Masvidal shot him after their disagreement. The reason behind the dispute remains unknown, but Leoncini was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Officials took Masvidal Sr. into custody and later charged him with attempted second-degree murder with a deadly weapon. A search of the residence yielded a .38 caliber revolver found inside a kitchen cabinet.
Law enforcement has confirmed that the younger Masvidal was not present during the incident and was not involved. Masvidal Jr., known for his strong anti-communist views and praise for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Sunshine State resident President Donald Trump, has not yet publicly commented on the situation.
Jorge Masvidal, 38, retired from UFC last month and is considered one of the most well-known fighters in the world. He is especially popular among conservatives, having called former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick a “coward” in 2021 over Kaepernick’s wearing of a Fidel Castro t-shirt. Masvidal wrote in an Instagram post, “Know ur history and facts cowards like this fool should be sent to live in Cuba see what they say after a day there.”
Despite the incident at his home, it is uncertain whether plans for Masvidal’s participation in a bare-knuckle fight on Friday night will change. He tweeted on Thursday, “Putting together the final pieces for the first sanctioned bare-knuckle fight in Florida. We used to risk our freedom for this now we’re getting legal checks for this what a blessing @GamebredFC.”
