War Machine Facing 7 Arrest Warrants for Alleged Assault of Ex-Girlfriend Christy Mack
The Las Vegas Police Department has issued seven arrest warrants
for the capture of War Machine
for his role in an alleged assault of ex-girlfriend Christy Mack
and another victim.
A representative from the LVPD confirmed to Sherdog.com on Tuesday that War Machine, formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver, faces the following warrants:
- one count battery resulting in substantial bodily harm
- one county battery by strangulation
- two counts battery with substantial bodily harm
- one count open and gross lewdness
- one count assault with deadly weapon
- one count coercion/threat with force
LVPD confirmed that War Machine is the “primary suspect” in the assault, which occurred at approximately 4 a.m. on Aug. 8. It is currently unclear if the two victims remain in the hospital, but the LVPD representative did confirm that they “sustained substantial injuries” from the attack. On Monday, Mack released graphic photos and a detailed account of the incident. Mack’s unedited statement is as follows:
My injuries include 18 broken bones around my eyes, my nose is broken in 2 places, I am missing teeth and several more are broken. I am unable to chew, or see out of my left eye. My speech is slurred from my swelling and lack of teeth. I have a fractured rib and severely ruptured liver from a kick to my side. My leg is so badly injured I have not been able to walk on my own. I also attained several lesions from a knife he got from my kitchen. He pushed the knife into me in some areas such as my hand, ear, and head. He also sawed much of my hair off with this dull knife. After some time, the knife broke off of the handle and continued to threaten me with the blade. I believed I was going to die. He has beaten me many times before, but never this badly.
He took my phone and cancelled all of my plans for the following week to make sure no one would worry about my whereabouts. He told me he was going to rape me, but was disappointed in himself when he could not get hard. After another hit or two, he left me on the floor bleeding and shaking, holding my side from the pain of my rib. He left the room and went to the kitchen where I could hear him ruffling through my drawers. Assuming he was finding a sharper, more stable knife to end my life, I ran out my back door, shutting it behind me so the dogs didn't run inside to tip him off. I hopped the fence to the golf course behind my house and ran to a neighboring house. Naked and afraid he would catch me, I kept running through the neighborhood knocking on doors. Finally, one answered and I was brought to the hospital and treated for my injuries.
I would like to thank everyone for their support through this rough time. I am healing fast and well, and I appreciate all of the prayers and visits I have received over the past few days. After many months of fear and pressure to keep this man happy, although I fear for my life, I feel that I can no longer put myself in this situation. The cheating by him nearly every day, and almost weekly abuse is now more than I can stand. There is a $10k reward for the capture of Jonathan Koppenhaver at this time. Please report any information to your local police.
As of now, War Machine remains at large from authorities. However, the fighter did post to his Twitter account on Sunday.
“I’m not a bad guy, I went to surprise my [girlfriend], help her set up her show and give her an engagement ring and ended up fighting for my life,” he wrote. “The cops will never give me fair play, never believe me. Still deciding what to do but at the end of the day it’s all just heartbreaking.
“I only wish that man hadn’t been there, and that Christy [and] I would be happily engaged. I don’t know [why] I’m cursed. One day truth will come out.”
Bellator MMA released the welterweight fighter from his contract on Friday shortly after he became a primary suspect in the case. War Machine competed three times for Bellator, most recently submitting to a Ron Keslar rear-naked choke in the first round this past October.
“We have a zero tolerance policy here at Bellator when it relates to any form of domestic violence, and after learning of this latest incident involving Jon Koppenhaver -- War Machine -- Bellator is releasing him from him promotional contract with the organization,” Bellator President Scott Coker said in a statement.
A representative from the LVPD confirmed to Sherdog.com on Tuesday that War Machine, formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver, faces the following warrants:
Advertisement
- one county battery by strangulation
- two counts battery with substantial bodily harm
- one count open and gross lewdness
- one count assault with deadly weapon
- one count coercion/threat with force
LVPD confirmed that War Machine is the “primary suspect” in the assault, which occurred at approximately 4 a.m. on Aug. 8. It is currently unclear if the two victims remain in the hospital, but the LVPD representative did confirm that they “sustained substantial injuries” from the attack. On Monday, Mack released graphic photos and a detailed account of the incident. Mack’s unedited statement is as follows:
At around 2 am Friday morning, Jon Koppenhaver arrived
unannounced to my home in Las Vegas, NV, after he broke up with me
in May, he moved out of my house and back to San Diego. When he
arrived, he found myself and one other fully clothed and unarmed in
the house. Without a single word spoken, he began beating my
friend; once he was finished, he sent my friend away and turned his
attention to me. He made me undress and shower in front of him,
then dragged me out and beat my face. I have no recollection of how
many times I was hit, I just know my injuries that resulted from my
beating.
My injuries include 18 broken bones around my eyes, my nose is broken in 2 places, I am missing teeth and several more are broken. I am unable to chew, or see out of my left eye. My speech is slurred from my swelling and lack of teeth. I have a fractured rib and severely ruptured liver from a kick to my side. My leg is so badly injured I have not been able to walk on my own. I also attained several lesions from a knife he got from my kitchen. He pushed the knife into me in some areas such as my hand, ear, and head. He also sawed much of my hair off with this dull knife. After some time, the knife broke off of the handle and continued to threaten me with the blade. I believed I was going to die. He has beaten me many times before, but never this badly.
He took my phone and cancelled all of my plans for the following week to make sure no one would worry about my whereabouts. He told me he was going to rape me, but was disappointed in himself when he could not get hard. After another hit or two, he left me on the floor bleeding and shaking, holding my side from the pain of my rib. He left the room and went to the kitchen where I could hear him ruffling through my drawers. Assuming he was finding a sharper, more stable knife to end my life, I ran out my back door, shutting it behind me so the dogs didn't run inside to tip him off. I hopped the fence to the golf course behind my house and ran to a neighboring house. Naked and afraid he would catch me, I kept running through the neighborhood knocking on doors. Finally, one answered and I was brought to the hospital and treated for my injuries.
I would like to thank everyone for their support through this rough time. I am healing fast and well, and I appreciate all of the prayers and visits I have received over the past few days. After many months of fear and pressure to keep this man happy, although I fear for my life, I feel that I can no longer put myself in this situation. The cheating by him nearly every day, and almost weekly abuse is now more than I can stand. There is a $10k reward for the capture of Jonathan Koppenhaver at this time. Please report any information to your local police.
Added below are the graphic photos and story about what happened
pic.twitter.com/U1T1X2OP4d
— Christy Mack (@ChristyMack) August
11, 2014
As of now, War Machine remains at large from authorities. However, the fighter did post to his Twitter account on Sunday.
“I’m not a bad guy, I went to surprise my [girlfriend], help her set up her show and give her an engagement ring and ended up fighting for my life,” he wrote. “The cops will never give me fair play, never believe me. Still deciding what to do but at the end of the day it’s all just heartbreaking.
“I only wish that man hadn’t been there, and that Christy [and] I would be happily engaged. I don’t know [why] I’m cursed. One day truth will come out.”
Bellator MMA released the welterweight fighter from his contract on Friday shortly after he became a primary suspect in the case. War Machine competed three times for Bellator, most recently submitting to a Ron Keslar rear-naked choke in the first round this past October.
“We have a zero tolerance policy here at Bellator when it relates to any form of domestic violence, and after learning of this latest incident involving Jon Koppenhaver -- War Machine -- Bellator is releasing him from him promotional contract with the organization,” Bellator President Scott Coker said in a statement.
Related Articles
