Ex-NFL star Antonio Brown reportedly wanted for attempted murder in Miami

The Guardian

20 hours ago

Authorities in Miami-Dade County have issued a warrant for the arrest of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown on a charge of attempted murder with a firearm, according to documents reviewed by the Washington Post.
The charge stems from a 16 May shooting outside a celebrity boxing event in Miami. The warrant, signed Wednesday, alleges Brown punched a man during a brawl, then grabbed a firearm from a security officer and fired two shots as he chased the same individual. The alleged victim told police one bullet may have grazed his neck. Brown was not arrested at the time but now faces a felony charge requiring a $10,000 bond and house arrest if taken into custody.
Brown, 36, who last played in the NFL in 2021, has not responded publicly to the latest charge. His representation remains unclear. A spokesperson for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office declined to comment to the Post.
Police were called to the scene just before midnight after reports of gunfire. An off-duty officer working security at the event told investigators he saw Brown engaged in a physical altercation. Witnesses named Brown as the shooter, according to the warrant cited by the Post. Officers later recovered two shell casings and an empty gun holster, but no weapon was found on Brown when he was initially detained.
Brown later posted on social media that he had been 'jumped' by individuals attempting to rob him. He said police temporarily detained him to hear his account and released him the same night.
Surveillance and cell phone video obtained by investigators reportedly shows Brown initiating the fight and later running toward the victim with a firearm. The alleged victim identified Brown in the footage and told police the two had known each other since 2022.
The attempted murder charge adds to a growing list of legal troubles for the former Pro Bowl receiver, including prior arrests, domestic violence allegations and financial lawsuits. Once among the league's most productive players, Brown's post-NFL career has been marred by erratic behavior and repeated run-ins with the law.
Brown has filed for bankruptcy and previously attributed some of his behavior to possible chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to head trauma.
The Miami native and sixth-round draft pick out of Central Michigan played 12 NFL seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, becoming one of the most prolific receivers of his era. He caught 928 passes for 12,291 yards and 83 touchdowns over 146 career games and was named to the Pro Bowl seven times, earning first-team All-Pro honors in four consecutive seasons from 2014 to 2017.
Brown won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay in the 2020 season, catching a touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the game. His career ended in 2021 after he dramatically exited a game mid-play, removing his jersey and jogging off the field.