Video above: Former Bucks player Antonio Brown wanted for attempted murder (previous report)
(AP) — Former NFL player Antonio Brown will return to Miami from a New Jersey prison after deciding not to contest extradition to Florida to face attempted murder charges, officials announced Friday.
Brown, 37, was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Dubai and taken to the Essex County Jail in New Jersey. He waived extradition during a brief court hearing Friday.
“Brown has returned to the Essex County Jail in Newark and is awaiting pick-up by Florida authorities,” Essex County Prosecutor’s Office spokeswoman Carmen Martin said in a statement.
According to an arrest warrant, Brown is accused of stealing a gun from a security guard after a celebrity boxing match on May 16 and firing two shots at a man with whom he had previously gotten into a fight. The victim, Zulu Karnaine Kwame Nantambu, told investigators that one of the bullets grazed his neck.
“Cellphone video obtained from social media showed Mr. Brown advancing toward Mr. Nantambu, who was walking outside with a firearm in his hand. The video captured two shots fired while Mr. Brown was within a few feet of Mr. Nantambu,” the arrest affidavit states. “The video also shows Nandanmu ducking after hearing the first gunshot.”
Initially, police did not identify Nantan as the victim, so Brown was not immediately arrested that night. It wasn’t until May 21 that the City of Nantambu gave police a full statement of the incident and identified Brown as the shooter, according to the affidavit.
According to social media posts, Brown had been living in Dubai for several months. It was not immediately clear why it took investigators so long to arrest him or why he was taken to New Jersey instead of Miami. It was also not clear from court or jail records whether Mr. Brown has an attorney.
In a social media post after the altercation, Brown said she was defending herself because “multiple people who tried to steal my jewelry jumped me and caused me physical harm.”
Attempted second-degree murder in Florida carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.
Brown, who spent 12 years in the NFL, is an All-Pro wide receiver who last played with Tampa Bay in 2021, but has spent most of his career in Pittsburgh. Brown had 928 receptions for over 12,000 yards and 88 touchdowns in his career. He was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times.
He was a key part of the Buccaneers team that defeated Kansas City in the 2021 Super Bowl, including a touchdown pass thrown by Tom Brady.
Mr. Brown has dealt with several legal issues over the years. He had previously been accused of assaulting a moving truck driver, multiple counts of domestic violence, failure to pay child support, and other incidents.
During the 2021 game between Tampa Bay and the New York Jets, Brown took off his jersey, shoulder pads, and gloves and ran off the field, leading to his release from the Buccaneers and effectively ending his football career.
