Former WWE star Shad Gaspard found dead at 39

The former Cryme Tyme member died in a tragic drowning accident.

May 20, 2020

Ex-WWE star Shad Gaspard made headlines on Monday, May 18, after it was reported that he was missing following an incident in Venice Beach, California, on Sunday afternoon.

Gaspard went swimming with his 10-year-old son around 4 p.m. on Sunday but was pulled deeper into the water by a strong rip current. Witnesses at the scene stated that Gaspard directed responders to help his son first.

Gaspard’s son did make it out of the water, but before they could help Gaspard, he was reportedly hit by another wave, sending him further away. One member of the Los Angeles Fire Department told the media they believed that Gaspard “did submerge” afterward.

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for Gaspard on Tuesday morning, believing that it was unlikely that his body would be found, but a representative from LAPD told Fox News that they would be continuing the investigation.

At about 1:46 a.m. on Wednesday, LAPD officers were flagged down by a citizen reporting that a body had washed ashore, according to ABC News. At 9:09 a.m. that same day, CBS Los Angeles reporter Tina Patel reported that the body had been identified as Shad Gaspard by LA County Fire Department lifeguards.

Gaspard was most known for his work as one half of WWE tag team Cryme Tyme with partner JTG. Gaspard signed a WWE developmental deal in 2005 after three years in Ohio Valley Wrestling, and he remained with the company until 2010.

After WWE, Gaspard pursued an acting career, appearing in movies such as Think Like a Man Too and Get Hard and worked as a stunt double in 2020’s Birds of Prey. He also appeared in televised roles for shows such as The Game, Key & Peele, and From Dusk till Dawn: The Series. Off screen, Gaspard portrayed Jack Johnson in a stage production of The Pugilist.

Outside of entertainment, Gaspard also made headlines in 2016 when he stopped the armed robbery of a gas station in Coral Springs, Florida.

The outpouring of support from wrestlers, promotions, and fans online has been overwhelming for the late Shad Gaspard, who by all accounts was a kind man who loved his family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Gaspard family at this time.