Police: Friend of boxer Mayweather facing charges in shooting outside Las Vegas skating center

Police: Boxer’s friend arrested in Vegas shooting

LAS VEGAS — A man who police say was part of boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s entourage is facing charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon stemming from an August shooting outside a Las Vegas skating rink, authorities said Tuesday.

Ocie Harris, 27, was arrested several weeks ago in Chicago on a warrant issued Dec. 19 in Las Vegas, and extradited over the weekend to Nevada where he was released Sunday after posting unspecified bail, Las Vegas police Lt. George Castro said.

Harris was due to appear Wednesday in Las Vegas Justice Court to face four felony charges. If convicted on all four charges, he faces up to 92 years in prison. It was not immediately clear Tuesday if Harris had a lawyer.

Castro identified Harris as a Mayweather “friend or associate” who was present Aug. 23 when Mayweather argued with Quincey Williams at the Crystal Palace Skating Center in Las Vegas.

The argument was over a text message Williams sent wishing Mayweather bad luck in his next fight, according to a police report that alleges Mayweather threatened Williams.

“‘Do you know who I am? I could have you trumped!’” the police report quotes Mayweather as saying.

Harris is accused of shooting several times at a BMW sedan with Williams and Damein Bland inside minutes after the alleged altercation. Neither man was wounded. Police later found seven bullet casings and counted six bullet holes in the BMW, according to the police report.

Witnesses told police that Harris waited in the parking lot for Williams and Bland to exit the skate center, and that they saw Harris open fire. Others told police they saw Harris talking with Mayweather “as he was threatening Williams.”

Mayweather is not a suspect in the shooting, Castro said.

“What we’re trying to find out is how deeply the triangle is with these three parties — the victims, Mr. Mayweather and Ocie Harris,” Castro said. “(Mayweather) is there with this guy, he’s a friend or associate. We still want to see how deeply involved Mr. Mayweather is.”

Mayweather’s manager, Leonard Ellerbe, and a lawyer representing the fighter did not immediately respond to messages Tuesday seeking comment. Ellerbe has denied Mayweather was involved in the shooting.

Castro said the six-time boxing champion acknowledged being at the skating center with his two-tone gray and blue Rolls Royce, but denied knowing anyone named Ocie or having any knowledge of a shooting.

Police later served a search warrant at Mayweather’s home and seized handguns, ammunition, bulletproof vests and two vehicles. Investigators did not find the gun believed to have been used in the shooting, Castro said.

Police said Harris was seen on surveillance video at the skating center, and security logs and videos placed him at Mayweather’s home at least four times before the shooting.

Mayweather has a professional record of 40 wins and no losses, including 25 knockouts. He is due to fight Shane Mosley on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Mosley is 46-5, with 39 knockouts.