Former NFL Star Returns to Florida to Face Serious Charges
Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown has officially waived his right to fight extradition and will now return to South Florida to face an attempted murder charge. The 37-year-old Super Bowl winner appeared before a judge in a New Jersey courtroom on Friday, where he declined to contest his transfer to Miami authorities.
According to an Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson, Brown stood before Judge Barry and voluntarily agreed to face the charges against him in Florida. The troubled athlete is accused of firing a gun at another man during an altercation in May, an incident that was captured on viral video footage.
The Dubai Escape and Social Media Activity
Brown had been living in Dubai for several months following the shooting incident, as evidenced by his extensive social media posts from the Middle East. His extradition earlier this week marks the culmination of an international manhunt for the former football star.
While being held at Essex County jail awaiting the final leg of his journey back to Florida, Brown's social media accounts remained surprisingly active. His Instagram posts continued to promote various cryptocurrency websites and online sportsbooks, with one message simply reading: 'God is good.'
Another post, written in the first person after his custody transfer to US Marshals, claimed Brown is innocent of the second-degree murder charge and announced he had 'handed over the keys to the socials and CTESPN to my team while I go through this fight for my innocence.'
Background of the Alleged Shooting Incident
The charges stem from an incident in May when Brown allegedly shot at Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu, a jewellery designer who had previously been involved in legal disputes with the former athlete. Nantambu shared photos of his injuries with Daily Mail, showing where a bullet grazed his neck and revealing he broke a finger during the altercation.
According to Nantambu's account, the confrontation began when Brown 'locked eyes' with him at an Adin Ross boxing event in Miami. Rather than ignoring his legal rival, Brown immediately called security and falsely claimed he was being jumped, Nantambu alleged.
Viral video of the incident appears to show Brown returning to the melee with a gun in hand. Nantambu believes Brown may have been attempting to use Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law to justify the shooting, telling Daily Mail: 'He thought he would get a free kill.'
Longstanding Legal Battle Between Both Men
The relationship between Brown and Nantambu dates back to 2022 in Dubai, where Nantambu claims Brown stole a valuable pendant necklace he had designed. The legal battle escalated when Brown allegedly falsely reported to Dubai police that Nantambu had stolen $2 million worth of jewellery from him, resulting in Nantambu's brief imprisonment.
Nantambu subsequently sued Brown in Florida and initially won a $968,960 verdict, though this was later vacated in 2024 before the case was dismissed. However, Nantambu has since pursued a partial reduced judgement of $123,600 in federal bankruptcy court.
If convicted on the charge of attempted second-degree murder with a deadly weapon, Brown faces up to 30 years in prison. The former Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers star continues to maintain his innocence, with his social media accounts ending recent posts with the hashtag: '#FREEAB.'
