Forrest, whose title was vacated in May amid an indefinite rib injury, was shot seven or eight times as he chased at least two men who had tried to steal his Jaguar as he put air in his tires at an Atlanta gas station, Lt. Keith Meadows said, according to the radio station.

But Forrest had a gun and confronted the men, police said.

“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.”

Forrest, 38, was fatally wounded by two semi-automatic weapons, according to police.

“At this point we have a general description of at least two black males driving a red Monte Carlo,” Meadows said, according to the report.

Police said the suspects likely didn’t know Forrest, whose girlfriend’s young son was in the car when he was shot.

Forrest, and Sergio Martinez, 34, were scheduled to fight Aug. 1 on Showtime. However, Forrest, who hadn’t fought since regaining the belt from Sergio Mora in a September rematch, suffered the rib injury training for an April tune-up fight against Jason LeHoullier.