A 25-year-old amateur boxer was fatally shot Sunday afternoon at a Pleasant Grove apartment complex, leaving behind a young daughter and dashed dreams of a professional career.
Matt Moore’s death has stunned the tight-knit boxing community in Rockwall, where he trained daily despite hour-long commutes each way.
Dallas police discovered Moore’s body around 4:15 p.m. near a stairwell at an apartment complex off South Murdeaux Lane. No suspects have been identified, and investigators haven’t released a possible motive.
Pete Chapa, who owns Chapa’s Boxing Gym in Rockwall, struggled to comprehend the loss of his dedicated protégé.
“To know that I have memories now, and he’s not here,” said Chapa, per Fox 4 KDFW. “Of course, you want to know what happened. You want to know why.”
Moore’s commitment was extraordinary – driving an hour each way to train, sometimes twice daily. His gym owner described a man whose life revolved around two passions.
“His world revolved around his daughter and boxing,” said Chapa.
The violent death particularly shocked those who knew Moore well. According to his mentor, he wasn’t someone who associated with dangerous crowds.
“Yeah, the unknown is what’s hard, right, because Matt was not somebody who ran in the circles of something like this happening.”
Moore had ambitious plans for his boxing career. He and Chapa had mapped out a path from amateur championships to the professional ranks.
“We had talked about winning national championships in the amateurs and then moving on to the professional ranks and trying to win a world title,” he said.
Beyond his athletic aspirations, Moore left a lasting impact on younger boxers at the gym. Chapa emphasized the leadership qualities that defined his student.
“The leader that he truly was is that he has a legacy of helping young people become better every day.”
Moore leaves behind a 5-year-old daughter. The gym now displays photos and keepsakes honoring his memory.
Dallas police continue investigating the homicide with no arrests made. Anyone with information should contact the department.
