Boxer Hannah Rapp killed while cycling in Texas, police say
US boxer Hannah Rapp, 26, was struck and killed by a driver while cycling in Brazos County, Texas, on Saturday, police say. Authorities arrested Charles Medina, 31, on a manslaughter charge after he allegedly reversed into Rapp following a close pass. Rapp had challenged for the WBC women’s featherweight title in June.
Key Takeaways
- Hannah Rapp, 26, died Saturday after a car struck her while she was cycling in Brazos County, Texas.
- Charles Medina, 31, was arrested and charged with manslaughter; bond was later set at $250,000.
- Deputies say Medina passed Rapp and another cyclist, then reversed and hit her.
- Rapp had gone 8-0-1 as a pro before losing a June WBC featherweight title fight to Tiara Brown.
- WBC leaders and Brown paid tribute to Rapp after news of her death spread.
What happened to Hannah Rapp while she was cycling?
According to the Brazos County sheriff’s office, Rapp and a fellow bicyclist were riding on a local road when Medina passed them in his car, stopped, and drove in reverse. He then hit Rapp, who was pronounced dead after emergency responders took her to a hospital.
Reporting citing a police affidavit said Medina passed the cyclists at high speed with little clearance, then allegedly braked, reversed, and accelerated backward, striking Rapp. Medina told investigators he thought the riders were trying to flag him down and said he was reversing at about 15 mph; deputies wrote that scene evidence indicated a heavier impact than that account suggested.
For more celebrity breaking news, BlasterPost is tracking tributes and updates in the case.
Who was charged in Hannah Rapp’s death?
Investigators arrested Medina in connection with Rapp’s death and booked him on manslaughter, which Texas law defines as recklessly causing a person’s death. Jail records and local reporting said he was held at the Brazos County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond.
The sheriff’s office called the case isolated and said the investigation remained active. Under Texas law, a manslaughter conviction can carry two to 20 years in prison. Jail records also showed prior arrests for Medina on counts including deadly conduct by discharging a firearm, assault causing bodily injury, and reckless driving; dispositions for those cases were not immediately available.
Why does Hannah Rapp’s death matter in boxing?
Rapp, a Yorktown, Indiana, native, had registered eight wins—including five by knockout—and one draw in her first nine pro bouts before challenging Tiara Brown for the WBC women’s featherweight championship in June. Brown retained the belt by unanimous decision in Orlando.
After Rapp’s death, Brown wrote that Rapp “was the best dance partner I have ever faced as a pro” and that it was an honor to share the ring with her. WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán said the loss left the organization heartbroken, calling Rapp an exceptional boxer and an invaluable member of the boxing family.
Authorities’ account of the cycling crash, including the arrest and manslaughter charge, was first widely reported by outlets including The Guardian.