By Mark Vester

Additional details have surfaced with respect to the murder of Vernon Forrest. The fighter was shot to death on Saturday night when two men robbed him in Atlanta, Georgia. There were several conflicting reports in the media but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution seems to have patched the entire story together.

The paper was told by Atlanta Police Detective Lt. Keith Meadows that Forrest had stopped at a gas station on Whitehall Street in the Southwest part of Atlanta around 11pm Saturday night. With him was his 11-year-old godson [not his girlfriend's son as the Associated Press reported and other outlets reported.]

While many reports have tagged the incident as an attempted carjacking, the press in Atlanta are piecing the incident together as a robbery. When his godson went inside the gas station to use the bathroom and buy snacks, Forrest would stay with his car to add air to a low tire. Around that point, a male suspect approached him and asked him for some money. According to some reports, Forrest took out his wallet when the suspect pulled out a gun, grabbed Forrest's wallet and fled.

Forrest was also armed and chased after the suspect. Some shots were exchanged. Forrest gave up the chase after assuming the suspect got away. As Forrest began to head back to the gas station, the suspect, unknowingly to Forrest, was behind him and shot him 7-8 times in the back and thigh area. The shooter fled in a red Monte Carlo with a second suspect.

Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, also an Atlanta native, was not surprised that Forrest went after the robber. He told the paper about a story when Forrest was a member of the United States Olympic team in 1992.

Holfyield remembered a thief snatching a hat from Forrest's head and taking off on foot. Forrest ran after the thief through the streets of Barcelona and got the hat back.

“[Forrest] chased him about a half a mile. Got his hat back. And got in a few punches too,” said Holyfield.

Forrest, 38, was a two-division champion and won titles at 147 and 154-pounds.

Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com