Three Florida teens have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of Aaron Rajman, an Orthodox Jewish MMA fighter known as the “The Matzoh Brawler.”
Rajman, 25, was shot to death in what appeared to be a home invasion gone wrong in early July when the teenaged suspects, Summer Church (16), Roberto Ortiz (18) and Jace Swinton (18) allegedly entered his bedroom in the house he shared with his mother and siblings. A brawl ensued and Rajman was shot.
All three suspects were denied bail on Saturday and face first-degree murder charges. They are being charged as adults.
With his closely cropped hair, bushy beard and trademark kippa was an unusual site in the ring, presenting an image somewhat evocative of New York-based Orthodox Ukrainian-American boxer Dmitry Salita. He was also a Krav Maga instructor, teaching the Israeli fighting style to local policew, the New York Post reported.
“This 25 y.o. young man, with his huge heart, and quick smile, will be mourned and missed by his family and friends,” West Boca Tai Chi wrote on Facebook.
“I don’t understand how somebody could do this to such a great soul,” Jonathan Lirette, a family friend, told the Palm Beach Post.
Speaking with the Sun Sentinal, Summer Church’s mother Judi claimed that her daughter was "held at gunpoint and forced to make a phone call to” Rajman, with whom she was acquainted.
"The state attorney needed to arrest somebody, and they decided she was the criminal mastermind behind all this even though she told them everything she knows,” Church claimed.
However, the Sun Sentinal reported, State Attorney Dave Aronberg countered that “Mr. Rajman was targeted by these defendants, and we intend to seek justice for the victim and his family."