Antonio Brown Returns to Miami After Waiving Extradition

Antonio Brown, the former NFL wide receiver, is returning to Miami after waiving his extradition rights concerning an attempted murder charge. This development was confirmed by officials on November 7.

At 37 years old, Brown was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals after being charged with attempted second-degree murder with a deadly weapon. The allegations stem from an incident outside a celebrity boxing match in Miami back in May, where he reportedly attempted to shoot a man.

Reports indicate that Brown was in the United Arab Emirates at the time of his arrest, allegedly trying to evade U.S. authorities. Following a lengthy search, he was extradited to New Jersey on November 7.

Carmen Martin, a spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, stated, “Brown is back at the Essex County Jail in Newark where he is awaiting pick up by Florida authorities.”

The boxing event in question was hosted by popular streamer Adin Ross. Footage from the incident shows Brown engaged in a physical altercation with several individuals outside the venue. According to an arrest warrant, Brown claimed that a security guard intervened during the fight, which led him to allegedly draw his firearm.

Witnesses reported that Brown fired shots during the altercation, with two shell casings discovered at the scene. However, when police apprehended him, he was reportedly unarmed.

The individual identified as the victim in the warrant is Zül-Qarnāin Nantambu, who Brown allegedly targeted. The arrest warrant details that “cell phone video obtained from social media showed Mr. Brown with the firearm in his hand advancing towards Mr. Nantambu on the outside sidewalk.” The footage reportedly captures two shots fired as Brown approached Nantambu, who ducked for cover after the first shot.

In response to the incident, Brown took to social media the following day, asserting his innocence. “I was jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me,” he wrote on X on May 17. “Contrary to some video circulating, Police temporarily detained me until they received my side of the story and then released me. I WENT HOME THAT NIGHT AND WAS NOT ARRESTED. I will be talking to my legal counsel and attorneys on pressing charges on the individuals that jumped me.”

A second-degree attempted murder charge in Florida carries severe penalties, including a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and fines reaching up to $10,000 upon conviction.

Brown's NFL career spanned 12 seasons, with nine of those years spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also had brief stints with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won a Super Bowl in 2020. His time with the Buccaneers ended controversially after an incident during a game in 2021 when he removed his pads and uniform before leaving the field.

Throughout his career, Brown has faced numerous legal challenges, including accusations of battery, domestic violence charges, and failure to pay child support among other issues.