John Duane VanMeter, a 24-year-old professional boxer, was tragically shot and killed in his Uvalde, Texas home on January 23, 2019. VanMeter, who was known as "The California Kid," was born in Fountain Valley, California, and had been boxing since the age of 10. His girlfriend called 911 after hearing someone trying to kick in their door, and when officers arrived, they found VanMeter lying in the living room with a gunshot wound to the head.
He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation revealed that a 12-year-old boy, whose name has not been released due to his age, was charged with capital murder in connection with VanMeter's death. The boy, dressed in all black with a black bandana over his face, was seen running from the home where VanMeter was shot. Witnesses reported that the boy knew VanMeter and his family well and had stayed at their home on and off over a two-month period. The boy had a history of behavioral issues, including shoplifting and threatening people with violence.
The suspect was taken into custody and held at a juvenile detention facility. Under Texas law, children under the age of 14 cannot be tried as adults for first-degree felonies, so the boy will remain in juvenile facilities until the age of 19. At that point, a judge will decide whether to transfer him into an adult facility to serve the remainder of his sentence or release him on parole.
The boxing community in Uvalde mourned VanMeter's death, with local gyms and clubs expressing their condolences and remembering him as a great friend and mentor to upcoming fighters. The case drew significant attention, and the community continues to seek justice for VanMeter's untimely death.
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