MMA fighter shot, killed west of Boca

Several men entered his house and fight ensued, according to authorities.

A professional mixed martial arts fighter was shot in his family’s home west of Boca Raton on Monday night during a home invasion and later died of his injuries.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office identified the shooting victim on Tuesday as Aaron Rajman, 25, of suburban Boca Raton.

The shooting occurred about 10:25 p.m. Monday in a house in the 22700 block of 65th Terrace after several men entered the house and a fight ensued, a sheriff ’s office news release said. Several men then fled in a vehicle in an unknown direction after the shooting, the news release said. Sheriff ’s detectives are investigating the case as a homicide and have only vague information about the suspects.

Shortly after Rajman’s name was announced, friends and associates on Facebook and Twitter started identifying him as an MMA fighter.

One such post appeared on the Facebook page of West Boca Tai Chi, a martial arts school, which said Rajman was a mixed martial arts fighter who practiced at the school. In the Facebook post in Rajman’s memory, the school said three men had gunned him down in his family’s home in the middle of the night.

This “young man, with his huge heart, and quick smile, will be mourned and missed by his family and friends,” the post said.

According to the fight site Sherdog, Rajman was a 145pound featherweight who trained at American Top Team in Coconut Creek and had an amateur record of 8-1 and a professional record of 2-2. Another site, The Underground, also said he had an amateur record of 8-1. He lost his last professional fight, on May 7, 2016, in a TKO to Luis Raul Gomez Alvarez.

Jonathan Lirette, 36, of Margate, said he was a friend of Rajman’s father, whom he said died of cancer about four years ago. He said he knew Aaron Rajman since Rajman was about 12 years old — he would come over to Lirette’s house and they would watch UFC fights together. Even as a child, Rajman knew he wanted to be a professional fighter.

“I don’t understand how somebody could do this to such a great soul,” Lirette said.

Rajman’s parents were divorced, Lirette said. Rajman lived with his mother and siblings in suburban Boca Raton.

From an amateur fighter to an MMA professional, Rajman was known as one of only a few Orthodox Jews in the sport. He carried a strong faith, Lirette said.

Karen Landow Albert, 61, of Israel, said through direct messaging on Facebook that she was close with Rajman’s mother when she lived in Boca Raton. Albert said Rajman’s mother taught her sons in school. She said Rajman was “an incredible kid and grew up to be an incredible young man.” Though a talented fighter, he was hum- ble, she said.

“He was loved by everyone who knew him and always looked to help others and do good in this world,” she said. “This world lost a shining soul.”

A childhood friend of Rajman said the two went to Jewish elementary school together, and even though they didn’t talk as much in adulthood, they could always pick back up where they left off. In the past few years, the friend saw Rajman grow closer to his faith and become a positive representative of the religious community.

“It was pretty special to watch him walk into a ring with a yarmulke on,” said the friend, who did not want his name used.

Rajman is not the first professional MMA fighter killed in Palm Beach County.

Mixed martial arts fighter Jordan Parsons died May 4, 2016, of injuries suffered in a hit-and-run in Delray Beach three days earlier.

Parsons, 25, trained with the Blackzilians MMA team at JACO Hybrid Training Center in Boca Raton.

Dennis Wright, 28, of Boca Raton, was arrested on charges in Parsons’ hit-and-run. If convicted, he faces a possible 70-year prison sentence on various charges, including DUI manslaughter, in connection with Parsons’ death. Delray Beach police said he was driving a Range Rover at speeds of up to 110 mph on Federal Highway at Lindell Boulevard when he hit Parsons.

The sheriff ’s office asked anyone with information about the incident involving Rajman to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS (8477).