Moment Teen MMA Fighter Beats Suspected Car Thief Outside Gym: 'Defuse the Situation'

US News

By Ronny Reyes

An 18-year-old Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blue belt shot and killed a man he said was trying to steal his car outside his Indianapolis gym — but the suspected thief claims it was all a big misunderstanding.

Shocking new video from inside the 10th Planet Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym showed the moment Gavin Archer confronted Andrew Wilkerson, a mechanic who was trying to get into the teen's car on Monday, WISH-TV reports.

Archer could be seen arguing with Wilkerson just outside the door when the teen returned to the gym and threatened to call the police on the mechanic, who claimed he was just trying to do his job and take the car for an inspection of the muffler. shop next door.

Wilkerson then appears to charge at Archer, who backs away, but the blue belt is able to grab the man's arm and blocks a punch as he pushes Wilkerson to the ground.

Once they're on the mat, Archer can be seen overpowering Wilkerson and positioning himself on top of him, where he delivers a series of punches against the mechanic.

Seconds later, Archer chokes Wilkerson and pulls him away from the gym's reception area and out of the camera's view.

Wilkerson told the outlet that the fight was the result of a misunderstanding, as Archer's vehicle allegedly matched the description of the car he was supposed to work on next.

“He says things like, 'Don't go anywhere.' I’m calling the cops,” Wilkerson said.

“I’ve been working on it for a few months. I know what the gym does.

“I know this guy is a trained fighter, so when he says, 'Don't go anywhere,' the last thing I want to do right now is turn around and not be able to see this guy,” he said. he adds.

“Finally, I took a stand and raised my voice a little bit and took a step like, 'Hey, listen to me.' He took a step back and pushed the gym door all the way, which in that situation seemed to be coming at me next, so I just reacted and went after him,” Wilkerson claimed.

Archer, however, refutes the mechanic's claims and claims that Wilkerson instigated the fight.

“De-escalating the situation is the No. 1 priority,” the teen said of fighting rules.

“The best martial art is to run away, but if you can't do that, you just need something else.”

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said a police report was taken following the incident, but no one was arrested.

Archer told local WRTV he plans to file a lawsuit against Wilkerson, who is no longer employed at the muffler shop.