Houston boxer, 44, is shot dead by 28 year-old 'girlfriend's' estranged husband, 61, after she met with him at restaurant to discuss divorce: Shooter fled in Maserati and shot himself

  • Maurenzo 'Tuffy' Smith, a Houston amateur boxer, was killed inside a seafood restaurant after accompanying a woman to meet her estranged husband
  • The two spoke about divorce proceedings before the man stormed off and returned with a gun, firing off 13 rounds  
  • Smith was struck multiple times and killed, while the wife and other diners escaped unharmed 
  • He was a widower raising four children, including two of his own 
  • Smith was due to fight in Colombia next week, and was called 'very loving' by grieving family members
  • The family has denied reports that the woman was his girlfriend  

An amateur boxer was shot dead in Houston on Wednesday after taking a woman said to be his girlfriend to meet her estranged husband about their divorce.

Maurenzo 'Tuffy' Smith, a 44 year-old widower and father-of-two, accompanied the unnamed 28-year-old woman to a seafood restaurant to meet her 61 year-old husband, whose identity has yet to be released, about divorce proceedings.

The separated spouses spoke for approximately 20 minutes before the argument turned heated, causing the husband to first leave the restaurant and later return with a gun.

He shot off 13 rounds inside the Crab Station Oyster Bar, striking Smith multiple times but missing his wife, who escaped the carnage unharmed.

The husband then fled in his Maserati and shot himself in the head. He is not expected to survive his wounds.  

Maurenzo 'Tuffy' Smith accompanied a woman to a diner to meet her husband for divorce proceedings, but the husband became angry and shot Smith, killing him. Smith was a local heavyweight boxer and remembered as a 'very loving' person

Maurenzo 'Tuffy' Smith accompanied a woman to a diner to meet her husband for divorce proceedings, but the husband became angry and shot Smith, killing him. Smith was a local heavyweight boxer and remembered as a 'very loving' person

He was shot dead at the Crab Station and Oyster Bar (pictured) around lunch time

He was shot dead at the Crab Station and Oyster Bar (pictured) around lunch time

The husband of the woman Smith was with fled in his Maserati (pictured surrounded by cop cars) then shot himself in the head

The husband of the woman Smith was with fled in his Maserati (pictured surrounded by cop cars) then shot himself in the head 

'When he returned, he shot the male she was with multiple times, and he attempted to shoot her, but he missed,' said Harris County Sheriff's Office Major Susan Cotter.

The husband then fled the scene in a flashy Maserati sports car before being stopped by Houston cops who responded to reports of the shooting.

The husband then exited the Maserati and shot himself in the head before being taken to Houston Northwest Hospital in critical condition, where he is on life support and is not expected to survive.

DailyMail.com has contacted the Harris County Sheriff's Office for an update on his condition.  

The husband and wife had been married nine years prior to the incident and had no children, according to the sheriff's office. 

A witness Kathy Smith said she and her daughter were about to walk into the restaurant for lunch when Smith was shot. 

She told KHOU-11: 'And I’m like 'Oh (bleep)!' I said: "Somebody got shot!" So when we came back around, the guy was already lying on the floor...dead.' 

Smith said she and her daughter would more than likely not return to the restaurant.  

The boxer was called 'kind' by his grieving family members who said he was the type of person who was 'always trying to help'

The boxer was called 'kind' by his grieving family members who said he was the type of person who was 'always trying to help'

Saraa Abdullah Smith, Smith's daughter, said he was 'always looking to improve.' Relatives said Smith was not in a romantic relationship with the woman and only met her last Friday

Saraa Abdullah Smith, Smith's daughter, said he was 'always looking to improve.' Relatives said Smith was not in a romantic relationship with the woman and only met her last Friday

Only five or six other people were present at the time of the shooting, including employees, and all besides Smith left unharmed. 

Relatives were shocked and recounted Smith's charming personality, calling him a 'very loving, kind guy.' 

Smith's sister Ida Carter said he was 'always trying to help and eventually, that’s what ended up with him in the situation.' 

Relative said Smith and the woman had only met last Friday, and they insist he was not romantically involved with her, although other outlets and the Harris County Sheriff's Department described them as a couple.

'There was no relationship of any kind as far as boyfriend and girlfriend,' said Carter.

The boxer's father said his son was 'just trying to protect somebody.' 

'That's not his job, it shouldn't have been him,' the father told KHOU-11. 'It happened, it's ugly, we have to stop the killing.' 

Carter said Smith was an 'innocent bystander' and 'was just trying to help.' 

Smith was a heavyweight boxer who was due to fight in Colombia just next week, with one relative even calling him a 'celebrity.'

'My brother was a celebrity boxer here from Houston, Texas, born and raised here in Houston,' said Cherice Westpiere, another of Smith's sisters.

'He was always looking to improve,' said Smith’s daughter Saraa Abdullah Smith. 

'Whether it was for leadership, working out or just becoming a better man or better father,' she said.

Carter also said she was shocked when her younger brother decided he wanted to be a boxer, telling ABC 13: 'It tripped me out when he wanted to be a fighter. I said: "Bro, how are you going to be a fighter and you so soft."'

Westpiere said Smith lost his wife a couple of years ago, along with their mother: 'Now we have lost our brother,' she said.

Smith's family started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs. It has so far raised $465 of it's $50,000 goal.  

Smith was due to fight in Colombia next week and holds many titles 

His father said his son was 'just trying to protect somebody,' but that it 'wasn't his job' to do so

His father said his son was 'just trying to protect somebody,' but that it 'wasn't his job' to do so

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