Ivan ‘JP’ Cole dead: MMA fighter 'kills himself playing Russian Roulette'

Cole was a rising star in the mixed martial arts scene

Cole, a New Orleans native, was a rising star in the mixed martial arts scene (Facebook / CBS DFW)

Mixed martial arts fighter Ivan ‘JP’ Cole has died aged 25, with early reports suggesting he was shot while playing Russian Roulette.

Dallas Police has confirmed Cole was found dead on Saturday morning.

A fundraising website, apparently set up by his wife Kymberli Cole, has said she lost her husband to “gun play”.

“Today 11 June, 2016 I lost my husband to gun play,” the page reads. “He made a bad decision that cost him his life. If you could donate anything I would really appreciate it.”

On its Facebook page, local news station CBS DWF reported: “Cole killed himself while reportedly playing roulette with gun in Dallas apartment [sic]”.

Police are currently looking into the events surrounding his death.

“On 11 June, 2016, at approximately 7.30 am, officers responded to a shooting in the 13700 block of Montfort Drive. Officers found Ivan Robert-Earnest Cole, B/M 25-years-old, deceased,” a statement on the Dallas Police Department website reads. “The death of Mr Cole will be classified as an unexplained death pending the results of the autopsy.”

CBS reporter JD Miles wrote on Twitter that Cole’s death had been “attributed to [a] deadly game of Russian roulette”. But he later said police were still investigating these reports.

Fellow MMA fighter Antwan Williams said he does not believe reports Cole had been playing Russian Roulette. “I don’t think he would play with himself like that,” he told CBS.

He also paid tribute to Cole. “He’s such a great athlete in the cage or in the ring, just such a great athlete. You can’t even explain it, but when you see him outside of the ring or the cage, he’s just so cool.”

Cole, a New Orleans native, was a rising star in the mixed martial arts scene. He became a professional MMA fighter in 2012 and he last took part in Bellator 135 in March 2015 but lost to George Pacurariu in the first round via submission. He is survived by his wife and a four-year-old daughter.

His death follows a number of prominent MMA fighters who have died in 2016. Last week, Kimbo Slice died at the age of 42 and UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman died in February at the age of 44.