Hector “Macho” Camacho–three-time world boxing champion–died on Saturday, four days after being shot in a drive-by shooting in the San Juan, Puerto Rico suburb of Bayamon. He was 50 years-old.
Since the incident Camacho has been on life support. Over a four-day span, he experienced a series of heart attacks, the second on early Saturday morning, according to Ernesto Torres, Director at Rio Piedras Medical.
Camacho was declared brain dead on Thursday after being shot on Tuesday while sitting in a car with a friend, Adrian Mojica Moreno, 49, outside a liquor store.
Reuters reports: “Two gunmen opened fire on the car, killing the driver, Mojica Moreno, and hitting Camacho in the jaw. The bullet fractured two vertebrae and lodged in his shoulder, damaging the arteries that carried blood to the brain.”
Nine small bags of cocaine were found in Moreno’s pockets, and another open bag in the car, according to police. The investigation is still underway.
Camacho was a left-handed boxing champion. He was born in Puerto Rico, but grew up in the Spanish Harlem neighborhood of New York City. He had a boxing record of 79-6-3 with 38 knockouts. His career spanned three-decades; and he is well-known for his vibrant style, which included entering the ring in Puerto Rican flag inspired outfits.
Camacho won titles in three weight classes: super featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight. He won his first world championship in 1985, with his last win in 1991. Camacho had his last match in 2010.
Details of the public wake, scheduled to be held at the Department of Sports & Recreation headquarters in San Juan, are pending.
