Antonio Brown, one of the greatest wide receivers of his generation — but also one of the most controversial — finds himself in deep trouble Thursday, in what may be the most serious of a lengthy list of legal issues he has dealt with over the past several years. According to a Washington Post report, Brown — who was briefly a member of the New England Patriots in 2019 — is wanted by Miami-Dade County, Florida, law enforcement on attempted murder charges, the Post reported.
Brown signed with the Patriots after he was traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers — the team that drafted him in the sixth round in 2010 out of Central Michigan — to the then-Oakland Raiders, and the Raiders released him after a series of bizarre incidents.
“He arrived late to training camp after he injured his feet by stepping barefoot into a cryotherapy chamber, refused to play with a helmet that conformed to NFL rules and posted a voicemail from his coach pleading with him to play,” the Post report recounted.
One Game With the Tom Brady and the Patriots
The Patriots signed Brown, at least partly at the instigation of Tom Brady, who played his final season in New England that year.
Brown played one game for New England, catching four passes from Brady for 56 yards and a touchdown. But reports soon surfaced that Brown was the target of a lawsuit accusing him of rape, according to a New York Times report.
Brown sent intimidating messages to his accuser once the lawsuit was publicly reported. After that, the Patriots released him, as well.
In the new charges, according to the Post account based on court records, Miami-Dade authorities are seeking Brown “on a charge of attempted murder stemming from a shooting at a celebrity boxing event in May.” The event took place in the Little Haiti district of Miami.
Once arrested, Brown will be required to post a $10,000 bond and remain under house arrest until his trial, according to a warrant reviewed by the Post.
The Post attempted to contact the 36-year-old Brown, but was unable to reach him.
Allegations of Firing Gun at Man in Parking Lot
“Officers responded to a report of gunshots being fired outside of the venue shortly before midnight May 16. When they arrived, an off-duty officer working security at the event said he left the venue after being told of the sound of gunfire, according to the warrant, and said he then observed Brown involved in a physical altercation with another man,” the Post reported, citing the warrant.
Witnesses who have spoken to police have allegedly identified Brown as the shooter.
Police detained Brown but found no weapon in his possession, though they found two spent shell casings in the parking lot where the shooting is reported to have taken place. They then released Brown, who according to the Post currently lives in Fort Lauderdale, about a 40-minute drive north of Miami.
Brown later posted on his social media accounts that he had been “jumped” by individuals attempting to rob him of jewelry he was wearing at the time.
As reported by the Post, police say they have obtained video showing Brown instigating a brawl by punching an unidentified man, then grabbing a gun off a security officer. The video allegedly shows Brown running toward the man he had earlier punched, firing two shots as the man ducks.
