Former UFC star Diego Sanchez arrested in Albuquerque after highway shooting

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, on a busy highway, police say something surprising happened. Diego Sanchez, a former UFC fighter, was a passenger in a Jeep when someone fired a gun. A shot rang out as the Jeep passed a traffic crash on Interstate 40. Police pulled the Jeep over and arrested Sanchez, but he says he did not fire the weapon. No one was hurt, but Sanchez now faces gun-related charges. He was booked into jail and will appear in court soon.

Diego Sanchez arrested in Albuquerque

Sanchez, 43, was riding in a white Jeep on Interstate 40 on Thursday evening when police say a shot was fired nearby . Police were at the site of a crash when an officer heard a “loud bang” as the Jeep passed by.

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Officers pulled the Jeep over near Sixth Street and handcuffed Sanchez. The driver of the Jeep was not charged . Court documents say officers found a gun and two live bullets in the car. Sanchez was booked on charges of shooting from a moving car and careless gun use.

He went to jail just after midnight and is still in custody awaiting a judge to set bail . A local TV station first broke the story, and other outlets like ESPN and KOAT followed with details. Investigators say the case is still under review, and Sanchez will return to court soon.

Diego Sanchez denies shooting, driver says he did

In court records, Sanchez told officers that a gun was in the Jeep but that he “did not shoot the gun.” However, the Jeep’s driver told police that Sanchez was the one who fired the shot . One report quoted the driver as saying Sanchez “did fire the gun” while Sanchez “denied shooting the gun.”

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Police found two live rounds and the gun after searching the Jeep. Reports say Sanchez was booked into jail at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and charged with two counts. He remains in custody and has pleaded not guilty. No official statement has come from Sanchez or his team. Sanchez won the first season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2005.

He was released by the UFC in 2020 after a long career. He even fought bare-knuckle boxing in 2023. Now he faces a very different situation: answering these new charges in court. As of now, he cannot leave jail until a judge sets bail.

Investigators have not said when he will be back in court, so people will have to wait for more news. His next court date has not been announced yet, so the public will watch for updates. Sanchez will remain in jail as the case moves forward. For now, this story is still unfolding.