Former MMA fighter and Aurora community activist charged with murder

A former professional MMA fighter and community activist from Aurora was charged with first-degree murder this week after police say he shot and killed a 28-year-old man during a child's birthday party at a Commerce City park in retaliation for the death of his son.

Lumumba Sayers, 46, is accused of first-degree murder and two counts of threatening behavior in the shooting death of Malcolm Watson near Paradice Island Pool in Pioneer Park on Saturday.

He appeared in Adams County District Court on Thursday, where a judge increased his bail from $1 million to $5 million.

According to an affidavit and testimony given in court Thursday, Watson was carrying party supplies for his son's birthday at the swimming pool at 5951 Monaco Street when Sayers approached him and fired several shots at him, including once in the head.

After shooting Watson, Sayers spoke with a man and a woman in a black Cadillac Escalade parked nearby before returning to Watson's body, taking his keys and attempting to place a gun under his body, the affidavit states.

When Commerce City police officers arrived on the scene, they found Sayers leaning over Watson before walking toward the Escalade, the affidavit states.

Officers arrested him after witnesses began screaming that he was the shooter. Watson was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses told investigators they believed the shooting was retaliation or revenge for the death of Sayers' son, 23-year-old Lumumba Sayers Jr., who was killed nearly a year ago in a shooting involving one of Watson's friends, the affidavit said.

Lumumba Sayers Jr. was one of two people killed in a shooting near 18th and Welton Streets in Denver's Five Points neighborhood on August 19, 2023.

Denver police arrested 24-year-old Tyrell Braxton on suspicion of first-degree murder, but no public court records are available in the case.

In response to a request for comment about Braxton's case, the Denver District Attorney's office said “no such records exist,” which is the only answer prosecutors can give under Colorado law when a case is sealed.

According to court records, Braxton is due to go on trial this week in federal court in Denver on a weapons charge related to the August 2023 shooting.

He was indicted by a grand jury in January on charges of possession of ammunition by an unauthorized person, court records show.

The trial is expected to conclude this week, court officials said Thursday.

After his son's death, Sayers told Denver7 reporters that Sayers Jr. was involved in gun violence prevention in the community and frequently visited his father's gym in Aurora, Heavy Hands Heavy Hearts Center.