Documents reveal man charged in killing at Denny's was a trained MMA fighter

Maria Toral, left, mother of John Hernandez's four-year-old daughter, listens as attorney Troy Chandler talks about the civil lawsuit against Chauna and Terry Thompson at the Chandler McNulty law firm office Tuesday, June 13, 2017, in Houston. The Thompsons have been indicted on murder charges in the death of Hernandez, who was taken off life support May 31 following a confrontation with the couple outside a Denny's restaurant on May 28. less Maria Toral, left, mother of John Hernandez's four-year-old daughter, listens as attorney Troy Chandler talks about the civil lawsuit against Chauna and Terry Thompson at the Chandler McNulty law firm office ... more Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 37 Caption Close Documents reveal man charged in killing at Denny's was a trained MMA fighter 1 / 37 Back to Gallery

The family of the man fatally choked outside of a Denny's restaurant in east Harris County has filed a civil lawsuit against the people they say are responsible for his death.

Attorneys Troy Chandler Randall Kallinen said the family chose to file the lawsuit in an effort to seek financial support.

John Hernandez was the family's sole breadwinner, Kallinen said. With his death, family members are worried that they will not be able to provide for Hernandez's 3-year-old daughter, Alexa Hernandez.

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Hernandez died three days after an altercation with Terry Thompson and his wife, Chauna Thompson, a Harris County sheriff's deputy, at the Harris County restaurant on May 28.

According to the Harris County medical examiner, Hernandez died from strangulation. Both Thompson and his wife were charged with murder, following a sheriff's office investigation and a grand jury indictment.

The civil suit was filed Monday.

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In it, attorneys further explain what they say happened that night in May.

According to the documents, Terry Thompson was a trained mixed martial arts fighter.

He approached Hernandez after he witnessed him urinating in public, according to a police report.

That's when tensions escalated.

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No one is certain who threw the first punch. Thompson's attorney says it was Hernandez.

But attorneys for Hernandez's family said who threw the first punch doesn't matter.

"This is not about how it began, but who ended it and how they did it," Chandler said. "This is about making sure John's daughter is taken care of now that he's gone.