Cain Velasquez says he pursued legal help after his young son disclosed alleged abuse at daycare, but became enraged when the accused man was released and the daycare planned to reopen. Velasquez then chased a vehicle for 11 miles and fired at its occupants, injuring one man. He acknowledges his actions were wrong and says he chose to accept the judge’s decision rather than take his case to trial.

By the Numbers
  • 11 miles: the length of the chase.
  • 9 months: the time Velasquez says he spent in solitary confinement before parole.
  • 5 years: the total sentence he says the judge imposed; he said time already served left one more year in state prison.
Yes, But

Velasquez describes acting out of rage over his son’s allegations and frustration with the legal response, but he also recognizes that firing during a public chase put innocent people at risk. He says he accepted responsibility instead of contesting the case at trial.

Bottom Line

Velasquez’s account conveys both the anguish behind his actions and their danger: anger over alleged abuse does not erase the risk his shooting posed to others.