Former NFL star Antonio Brown has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder as a result of a shooting after a celebrity boxing event in Miami, police confirmed Thursday.
Brown, 37, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Dubai, Miami police spokesman Mike Vega said. He was flown to Essex County, New Jersey, where he is being held pending extradition to Miami, Vega said.
It was unclear why Brown was taken to New Jersey first or how long he had been in Dubai, although he has posted several times on social media in recent months.
According to an arrest warrant detailing the May 16 shooting, Brown is accused of grabbing a gun from a security guard after the boxing match and firing two shots at a man he had previously had a fistfight with. The victim, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, told investigators that one of the bullets grazed his neck.
Court documents do not indicate whether Brown has an attorney. It was also not immediately known when Brown might be returned to Miami.
A charge of attempted murder in the second degree 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, was an All-Pro wide receiver who last played for Tampa Bay in 2021 but spent most of his career with Pittsburgh. Over his career, Brown had 928 receptions for over 12,000 yards and 83 touchdowns.
Brown has faced several legal problems over the years. He was accused of it before battery of a moving truck driver, several domestic violence charges, failure to pay child support and other incidents. During a 2021 match with Tampa Bay vs. New York JetsBrown took off his jersey, shoulder pads and gloves and ran off the field, leading to his release by the Buccaneers and effectively ending his football career.
