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Who was Vernon Forrest, the Boxing Champion Murdered After Being Robbed At an Atlanta Gas Station?
At age 38, Vernon Forrest was fatally shot in Atlanta. Learn more about the accomplished athlete and what led up to his murder.
Boxer Vernon Forrest was famous for throwing punches. He was also known for extending a helping hand for people in need.
On July 25, 2009, the 38-year-old former welterweight champion and Olympic athlete was fatally gunned down in Atlanta.
How and why did the acclaimed athlete and advocate’s life end in a hail of bullets and violence? The Season 3 premiere of The Real Murders of Atlanta, airing Saturday, August 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Oxygen and titled "Death Outside the Ring," takes a deep dive into the case to answer those questions.
Oxygen.com spoke with Atlanta TV journalist Shaunya Chavis — who got to know Forrest in social settings in Atlanta years after rooting for him in the Olympics, and is featured in the episode — for her insights about Forrest’s murder.
“It was a huge story,” she said. “It was really hard for a lot of people to comprehend.”
Who was boxer Vernon Forrest?
Born in 1971 in Augusta, Georgia, Forrest began boxing at age 9. He quickly rose through the ranks, making a name for himself as a talented athlete — and a determined one. Forrest studied business administration at Northern Michigan University before earning a spot on Team USA at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
“He was homegrown. He was from Georgia, so we were rooting for him,” Chavis told Oxygen.com.
Forrest didn’t make it to the medal platform, and after the Games, he turned pro. By 2009, he’d put together a record of 41 wins, 29 by knockout, and 3 losses, according to The New York Times.
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Forrest notably won boxing world titles in two weight classes. He captured the International Boxing Federation welterweight title in 2001 and the World Boxing Council super welterweight title in 2002.
One of his most memorable wins was over welterweight titleholder Shane Mosley, the New York Times reported.
What was Vernon Forrest known for beyond the boxing ring?
Outside the ring, Forrest was dedicated to helping others. In the late 1990s, he founded Destiny's Child, a nonprofit program that provided support and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.
“He was from Augusta, but Vernon Forrest really laid roots down here in Atlanta,” Chavis told Oxygen.com.
Known as “the Viper” because of the speed of his punches, Forrest was more like a gentle kitten with his Destiny’s Child community.
“The people I work with have been abused and neglected,” Forrest said, according to a New York Times obituary. “These are people that society turned their back on. Everybody needs help and everybody needs love.”
What happened to boxer Vernon Forrest?
Forrest’s commitment to the community made his murder all the more tragic. The fatal summer 2009 incident occurred while Forrest was at a gas station to fill the tires of his Jaguar with air.
He was approached by men who attempted to rob him. During the confrontation, Forrest, who was armed himself and fired his weapon, was shot multiple times in the back. He died from his injuries.
“The story garnered a tremendous amount of media attention, local and national,” Chavis told Oxygen.com. “He was an athlete who had benefited from the success of his chosen sport and wanted to give back to his community.”
“It was just shocking that it was him,” Chavis added. “You don’t think a boxer who can defend himself better than most would be the one that would be taken down.”
As for who murdered Forrest, surveillance camera footage, witness accounts, and a red car “eventually helped lead law enforcement” to the killers, said Chavis.
Find out more details about the case when The Real Murders of Atlanta Season 3 debuts Saturday, August 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
