Police in Edmonton have charged two people in the alleged hit-and-run death of former UFC fighter Ryan Jimmo.
Investigators say Jimmo, 34, was fatally injured early Sunday morning following an altercation in a parking lot in Edmonton.
Police say neither of the men charged knew Jimmo.
Anthony Getschel, 23, faces several charges including second-degree murder and criminal negligence causing death.
Jordan Wagner, 21, is charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
Prior to the arrests, police located and seized a vehicle in connection Jimmo's death late Monday evening. The vehicle was seized for forensic examination.
Police allege Jimmo had approached the driver of a vehicle and was walking back to his own car when he was struck by a vehicle, which then fled the scene.
Jimmo, who was born in Saint John, was pronounced dead in hospital.
Police say an autopsy has also confirmed that Jimmo died as a result of blunt force trauma after being run over by a vehicle.
Family overwhelmed by support
Meanwhile, Jimmo’s family in Saint John says they are overwhelmed by the support shown since his death.
A GoFundMe page has already surpassed its goal of raising $10,000 so Jimmo’s family can bring his body home from Edmonton.
“I didn’t even know there was such a thing. My granddaughter and her girlfriends set that up last night and wow, unbelievable how that took off,” says his mother, Linda Jimmo.
“It just goes to show, people who can’t be here for Nan and Gramp and the family that live far away, and everyone wants to help, you know, let me know if you need anything and people that can’t come, that’s their way, they can donate a small little bit and that’s their help to bring Ryan home,” says his niece, Tamara Robichaud.
Jimmo grew up in Saint John and began karate as a young boy. He got into bodybuilding in his 20s and then tried his hand at mixed martial arts.
“He laughed at everything, thought life was a joke, nothing was serious, except his training,” says Linda Jimmo.
Known as "The Big Deal" during his mixed martial arts career, Jimmo made his sensational UFC debut at UFC 149 in Calgary in July 2012.
Fighting as a light heavyweight he tied the record for the organization's fastest knockout when he dispatched Anthony Perosh in just seven seconds. Jimmo celebrated by doing a robot-dance followed by the splits in the middle of the cage.
The six-foot-two, 205-pounder had a black belt in karate and was part of UFC's TV series "The Ultimate Fighter" season 8.
Jimmo went 19-5 in his MMA career, with a 3-4 record in seven UFC fights -- his last fight being a loss to Francimar Barroso at UFC Fight Night 67 in May 2015.
The native Maritimer had most recently lived in Arizona after stints in Edmonton and Halifax.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Blackford and The Canadian Press
