(WSB Radio) Former boxing champion and U.S. Olympian Vernon Forrest was shot and killed in an attempted carjacking in the Mechanicsville community, a police spokesperson said.

Lt. Keith Meadows with the Atlanta police department told WSB Radio, Forrest was putting air in the tires of his Jaguar around 11 p.m. Saturday at a gas station on White Hall St. at McDaniel St. Investigators said at least two men jumped out of a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo and tried to steal Forrest's car. The boxer had a gun and started running after the suspects.

"The victim and suspect became involved in a brief foot chase," Lt. Meadows said. "At some point, gunfire was exchanged between the two of them. The victim was shot at least once in the head."

Lt. Meadows said Forrest was shot 7 or 8 times by two semi-automatic weapons. Investigators said they are talking to several witness.

"At this point we have a general description of at least two black males driving a red Monte Carlo." Lt. Meadows said.

Police don't think the suspects knew Forrest, 38, was a professional boxer. His girlfriend's young son was in the car at the time of the shooting. Family members are flying in from Texas to pick up the child, Lt. Meadows said. He is in police custody and is unharmed.

Forrest, who lived in Atlanta, was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team in Barcelona, Spain. He was best known for two WBC welterweight wins against Sugar Shane Mosley in 2002. Forrest, nicknamed the Viper, beat Sergio Mora for the WBC junior middleweight title in September.

The Augusta, Ga. native was stripped of his WBC belt in May because of a rib injury. He was supposed to fight Sergio Martinez on August 1st. His career record was 41-3 with 29 knockouts.