ESPN News Services
Nov. 6, 2025, 06:05 PM ET
Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown was arrested on an attempted murder charge tied to a shooting after a celebrity boxing event in Miami, police said Thursday.
Miami Police spokesperson Mike Vega said Brown, 37, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He was flown to Essex County, New Jersey, where authorities are holding him while arranging extradition to Miami.
Officials did not explain why Brown was transported to New Jersey first or how long he had been in Dubai. Brown has posted from Dubai several times on social media in recent months.
An arrest warrant related to the May 16 incident alleges that Brown grabbed a handgun from a security staffer after the boxing match and fired two shots at a man he had earlier been in a fistfight with. The man, identified in reports as Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, told investigators one bullet grazed his neck.
Court records did not indicate whether Brown has retained an attorney.
Police initially detained Brown at the scene after gunfire was reported. Video from the event showed Brown involved in scuffles with several people and gunshots can be heard after the altercation. Police released him a few hours later, and the following day Brown posted on social media saying he had been attacked by multiple people, was temporarily detained, and then released. He also said he planned to consult legal counsel about pressing charges against those who assaulted him.
A warrant for Brown’s arrest on a second-degree attempted murder charge was issued June 11. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if he is convicted.
Brown spent 12 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and last played in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished his career with 928 receptions for more than 12,000 yards and 83 touchdowns.
Throughout and after his playing career, Brown has faced a number of legal issues, including accusations of battery against a moving truck driver, multiple domestic violence allegations, and disputes over unpaid child support. In 2021, during a game with Tampa Bay against the New York Jets, Brown removed his jersey, shoulder pads and gloves and left the field midgame; he was released by the Buccaneers shortly afterward.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
