Suspect In Murder/Robbery Of Boxer Vernon Forrest Emerges

original story posted August 5, 2009

Tuesday, Damario Ware, 20, turned himself into the Fulton County District Attorney's office, according to police spokesman Officer James Polite.  Ware is being charged with the shooting death of boxer Vernon Forrest and will appear in court today.

Ware is one of four suspects that Police are currently after in the murder of Vernon Forrest.  Surveillance tapes obtained from an apartment building have aided authorities in trying to solve the case.  Ware has been deemed as the person responsible for the robbery, but they are still on the hunt for the shooter.

Forrest, 38, was gunned down July 25, while at a
gas station in Mechanicsville, Georgia.  As his godson went into the store and Forrest went to add air to this tire, he was robbed at gun point of his Rolex watch and his championship ring.  Forrest proceeded to chase down the perpetrator as he was armed and as he gave up the chase he suffered multiple and fatal gunshot wounds to the back.

Ware was already in over his head prior to this incident as he was on bond for an arrest back in March where he was facing charges that ranged from obstruction of a police officer to having several counts of criminal trespassing, according to jail officials.

Police believe that the man that actually had shot and killed Forrest was not the same person that had robbed him.  In losing light of the man who robbed him, there is speculation that he exchanged words with another man who then committed the deed.

Al Mitchell, Forrest's mentor and early boxing coach has stated that he has confidence that authorities will be able to capture the other suspects and has added that he wants all of them to have their punishment be the electric chair.

In regards to Forrest, his funeral was held on Monday where close to 1,500 friends, family and athletes all joined together to pay their last respects to the fallen boxer.