Aaron Rajman, one of few Orthodox Jewish MMA fighters, shot to death in Florida

Shortly after Rajman’s name was made public, friends and associates on Facebook and Twitter started announcing he was an MMA fighter.

One such post appeared on the Facebook page of West Boca Tai Chi, a martial arts school, which said Rajman was a mixed martial arts fighter who practiced at the school. In the Facebook post in Rajman's memory, the school said three men had gunned him down in his family's home in the middle of the night.

This “young man, with his huge heart, and quick smile, will be mourned and missed by his family and friends,” the post said.

According to the fight site Sherdog, Rajman was a 145-pound featherweight who trained at American Top Team in Coconut Creek and had an amateur record of 8-1 and a professional record of 2-2. Another site, The Underground, said he had an amateur record of 8-1. He lost his last professional fight, on May 7, 2016, in a TKO to Luis Raul Gomez Alvarez.

Jonathan Lirette, 36, of Margate, Florida, said he was a friend of Rajman’s father, who died of cancer about four years ago. He said he knew Aaron Rajman from the time Rajman was about 12 years old — The boy would come over to Lirette’s house and they would watch UFC fights together. Even as a child, Rajman knew he wanted to be a professional fighter.

“I don’t understand how somebody could do this to such a great soul,” Lirette said.

Rajman’s parents were divorced, Lirette said. Rajman lived with his mother and siblings in suburban Boca Raton.

From his days as an amateur fighter to his time as an MMA professional, Rajman was known as one of only a few Orthodox Jews in the sport. He carried a strong faith, Lirette said.

Karen Landow Albert, 61, of Israel, said through direct messaging on Facebook that she was close friends with Rajman’s mother when she lived in Boca Raton. Albert said Rajman’s mother, a teacher, taught her sons in school. She said Rajman was “an incredible kid and grew up to be an incredible young man.” In addition to being a talented fighter, he was equally as humble, she said.

“He was loved by everyone who knew him and always looked to help others and do good in this world,” she said. “This world lost a shining soul.”

A childhood friend of Rajman’s said the two went to Jewish elementary school together, and even though they didn’t talk as much in adulthood, they could always pick back up where they left off. In the past few years, the friend saw Rajman grow closer to his faith and become a positive representative of the religious community.

“It was pretty special to watch him walk into a ring with a yarmulke on,” said the friend, who did not want his name used.

Rajman is not the first professional MMA fighter killed in Palm Beach County.

Mixed martial arts fighter Jordan Parsons died May 4, 2016, of injuries suffered in a hit-and-run crash in Delray Beach three days earlier.

Parsons, also 25 at the time of his death, trained with the Blackzilians MMA team at JACO Hybrid Training Center in Boca Raton. He was 11-2 in 13 Bellator fights and was preparing for a bout in Bellator 154 on May 14, 2016. Bellator is a mixed martial arts organization with a smaller following than the more popular Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Dennis Wright, 28, of Boca Raton was arrested on charges from Parsons' hit-and-run. If convicted, he faces a possible 70-year prison sentence on various charges, including DUI manslaughter, in connection with Parsons' death. Delray Beach police said Wright was driving a Range Rover at speeds of up to 110 mph when he hit Parsons.

The Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with information about the incident involving Rajman to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS (8477).