Boxer Floyd Mayweather sued over shooting

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- World champion welterweight boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. faces a lawsuit over a 2009 shooting at a Las Vegas roller skating rink.

The two men who filed the lawsuit Tuesday say the accused shooter, Ocie Shomari Harris, was a Mayweather employee and acting at his direction, the Las Vegas Sun reported. Harris, who is also a defendant in the lawsuit, is awaiting trial on an attempted murder charge.

Jackie Ray Jones, Pretty Boy Enterprises and Mayweather Promotions LLC are also named as defendants.

Quincey Williams of Las Vegas and Damien Bland of Grand Rapids, Mich., say the shooting at the Crystal Palace Skating Center caused them psychological harm.

Police reports from Aug. 23, 2009, say Mayweather got into an argument with two men at the rink. As they drove away, Harris allegedly shot at their car.

Lawyers for Bland and Williams say Mayweather, Jones and Harris threatened to kill them.

Mark Ferrario, Mayweather's lawyer in other litigation, said the boxer does not want to try the case in the news media.

Mayweather, 34, began his professional career as a super featherweight after winning Golden Gloves championships and a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.