Lavar Johnson
Ex UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce heavyweight fighter Lavar Johnson almost lost his life at a family reunion back in 2009.
Johnson, who was 13-3 in his MMA career at the time, was with family members on 4th of July weekend when two male teenagers and a 15-year-old female walked past and one suddenly pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and opened fire on the group.
Johnson’s cousin, 37-year-old Anthony Mack Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene, while the fighter himself was one of four others who suffered gun shot wounds during the attack.
Johnson had been hit once in the hip, once in the forearm and most seriously once in the abdomen, which was feared to be a potentially life-threatening injury.
However, after undergoing surgery, having his appendix removed and spending a month in hospital, Johnson was finally released and would go on to make a full recovery, though a large scar on his abdomen served as a permanent reminder of how close he came to dying.
