Former NFL star Antonio Brown is back in Miami to face an attempted murder charge from a gunman’s lawyer, with his lawyer pleading not guilty on his behalf.
Jail records in Essex County, New Jersey, Show Brown was released Tuesday morning for his transfer to Florida. Brown, one of the NFL’s most popular players, has waived extradition to Florida from New Jersey, where he was taken after being arrested in Dubai.
Brown’s attorney, Mark EGarlarsh, said in an email that he has entered a written not guilty plea to no charge of murder. Brown could be at a master’s in Miami on Wednesday morning for a bond bond, Eglarsh said.
According to his arrest warrant, Brown is accused of taking a handgun from a security guard after a celebrity boxing match with someone he once fought. The presumed victim, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, told investigators that one of the bullets grazed his neck.
Eglarsh said Brown was only protecting himself from Nantambu.
“The actions he was forced to take in self-defense against the alleged violent behavior of the victim. Brown attacked his legal right to defend himself,” Eglarsh said.
Brown was not immediately arrested because initially the police did not identify Nantambu as a victim. It wasn’t until later in May that Nantambu gave a full statement about the incident to police and identified Brown as the shooter, the affidavit said.
Based on his social media posts, Brown has been living in Dubai for several months. In a post after the change, Brown said she was defending herself because she “jumped over several people who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me.”
A second degree attempted murder charge in Florida carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence and up to $10,000 in fines upon conviction.
Brown has faced many legal problems over the years. He was previously charged with battery on a truck driver, several domestic violence charges, failing to pay child support and other incidents.
During a 2021 game with Tampa Bay against the New York Jets, Brown took off his jersey, shouldered by rats and released his captives and effectively ended his football career.
Brown, who spent 12 years in the NFL, was a wide receiver who received most of his career with Pittsburgh. For his career, Brown has 928 receptions for over 12,291 yards, 28th most all-time. He was a seven-time pro bowl selection.