Ex-NFL star Antonio Brown wanted on attempted murder charge
Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown is wanted by authorities in Miami-Dade County on a criminal charge of attempted murder stemming from a shooting that took place during an altercation outside an amateur boxing event in Miami, according to an arrest warrant reviewed by The Washington Post.
Brown, 36, is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with earlier. The victim, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, told investigators one of the bullets grazed his neck.
The warrant does not list an attorney for Brown, who did not respond to messages sent to his social media accounts. The second-degree attempted murder charge carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence and up to a $10,000 fine.
Video posted to social media showed Brown involved in a fight with several people, and he was seen apparently holding a black pistol as he pursued someone. Shots could be heard off camera shortly thereafter. Miami police confirmed in a written statement that officers responded to the area at about 3 a.m. after receiving an alert from a gunshot-detection system. Additional video showed Brown, hands behind his back, being escorted from the venue by an officer. Brown posted on social media following the altercation that he had been "jumped by multiple individuals" who tried to steal his jewelry and cause him physical harm. His statement did not mention the gunshots.
Patrons in the parking lot told officers that Brown was the shooter, according to the warrant, which also states that Brown had no weapon on him when officers patted him down, per The Washington Post's reporting.
According to the warrant, Miami police detectives later obtained video footage that shows Brown appearing to take the gun of a security officer and running toward the man he had punched. The warrant also reveals that cellphone video captured two gunshots as Brown approached the victim, who is seen ducking.
Detectives met with the alleged victim — who confirmed that Brown shot at him twice and the two struggled over the gun before police arrived and Brown walked away — the following week on May 21, according to the warrant. According to The Washington Post, the warrant also revealed that the victim said he had known Brown since 2022.
It is the latest in a series of legal problems for Brown, who has previously been accused of battery of a moving truck driver, several domestic violence charges, failure to pay child support and other incidents.
A sixth-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010, Brown quickly emerged as one of the top receivers of his generation, earning seven Pro Bowl nods over an eight-year career with The Black and Gold. In that time, he led the NFL in receptions twice (2014, 2015), in receiving yards twice (2014, 2017) and in receiving touchdowns once (2018).
He had a short stint with the New England Patriots in 2019, lasting just one game before being released. The Super Bowl champion receiver last played in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. Brown caught 928 passes for 12,291 yards and 88 touchdowns in his 12-year career.
Brown became a co-owner of the Albany Empire, a professional indoor football team based in Albany, NY, in 2023.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.