Warrant Issued for Former NFL Star
Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown is currently wanted by authorities in Miami on a charge of attempted murder with a firearm. According to an arrest warrant signed by a judge on Wednesday, June 12, 2025, Brown faces a first-degree felony charge stemming from a shooting incident last month.
The warrant, issued by the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida and provided by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, stipulates that upon arrest, Brown is to be held on a $10,000 bond. If released, he would be placed under house arrest pending trial. As of Friday, June 13, the Miami Police Department confirmed that Brown has not yet surrendered to authorities.
Incident Details Emerge from May 16
The serious charge originates from an altercation that occurred just before midnight on Friday, May 16, 2025, outside an amateur or celebrity boxing event in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood. Police responded to reports of gunshots in the area, including an alert from a gunshot detection system.
According to the arrest warrant and witness statements cited by investigators, an off-duty Florida Highway Patrol officer working security at the event witnessed Brown involved in a physical fight with another man in the parking lot. Multiple patrons and witnesses at the scene reportedly identified Brown as the individual who fired a gun.
Investigators at the scene recovered two spent shell casings and an empty firearm holster. While officers initially detained and patted down Brown, no weapon was found on him at that specific moment, and he was released at the time because no victims were identified on site immediately.
Video Footage Paints Different Picture
Further investigation, including a review of surveillance camera footage and cell phone videos circulating online, provided a more detailed account. According to the warrant, this footage allegedly shows Brown striking another man with a closed fist, initiating a fight that escalated to involve other individuals.
The warrant states that after security staff intervened to break up the initial fight, Brown allegedly took a black firearm from the right hip area of one of the security staff members. He then reportedly ran with the gun towards the man he had initially punched. Cell phone video allegedly captured two shots being fired as Brown approached the alleged victim, who is seen ducking after the first shot.
The alleged victim was interviewed by police five days after the incident, stating he had known Brown since 2022. He positively identified Brown as the person who shot at him, firing twice and possibly grazing his neck. The victim stated he feared for his life during the incident and received treatment for visible injuries at a hospital that night.
Brown’s Counter-Claim and History of Issues
The morning after the May 16 incident, Brown posted on X (formerly Twitter) offering a different perspective. He claimed he was “jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm” and asserted he was the victim. He stated police temporarily detained him to hear his side and then released him, denying he was arrested that night and indicating plans to press charges against his alleged attackers. Attempts by news outlets to reach Brown for comment on the warrant have been unsuccessful, and it is unclear if he has legal representation.
This attempted murder charge marks the latest in a long series of legal challenges and controversies for the 36-year-old Miami native since his abrupt departure from the NFL in 2021, famously leaving the field mid-game while playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Brown, once a highly productive and celebrated receiver with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and Buccaneers – earning seven Pro Bowl selections and four First-team All-Pro nods – has faced numerous run-ins with authorities off the field. These include:
2019: Released by the Patriots amid sexual assault allegations, leading to a lawsuit settled in 2021 (Brown denied allegations).
2020: Pleaded no contest to burglary and battery charges from an incident involving a moving truck driver, resulting in probation and an eight-game NFL suspension for personal conduct violations. He also faced a domestic violence charge that was later dropped.
2023: Arrested for failure to pay child support.
Recent: Reports also mention a separate investigation involving Brown in Miami following a ShotSpotter alert on a recent Saturday morning, distinct from the May 16 shooting.
Brown has also faced issues related to the National Arena League franchise he briefly owned and reportedly filed for bankruptcy in the past. He has previously suggested that some of his behavior could potentially be linked to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
Brown finished his 12-season NFL career with substantial statistics, including 928 receptions for 12,291 yards and 88 touchdowns. However, his post-football life has been largely dominated by legal entanglements and erratic behavior, culminating in the current serious felony warrant.
