Bodycam shows Antonio Brown in handcuffs after allegedly shooting at Miami boxing event

Newly released police body camera video shows the moments former NFL star Antonio Brown was handcuffed and detained after he allegedly fired gunshots following a celebrity boxing match in Miami last year.

Brown, 37, filed a motion to dismiss his charges in the May 16 shooting under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. He has pleaded not guilty to the second-degree attempted murder charge, which carries a potential 15-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000 if he is convicted.

According to an arrest warrant, Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a celebrity boxing match in Miami and firing two shots at Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, with whom he had gotten into a fistfight earlier. Nantambu told investigators that one of the bullets grazed his neck.

An attempted murder charge in Florida carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence in many cases. But Assistant State Attorney Stephanie Cruz said because Brown allegedly used a gun, he could face double that time behind bars because of a firearm sentencing enhancement

The bodycam video, which was released Wednesday as part of discovery of the case, shows Brown in handcuffs and inside a Miami Police cruiser, complaining of his injuries and questioning why he was handcuffed.

“I did nothing, brother,” he tells an officer.

Throughout the footage, he begs the officer to use the bathroom, requests to call his mom, and asks him to check the cut on his knee.

“Why am I in handcuffs, bro, who hit me?” Brown says.

Brown’s attorney said that the arrest affidavit is mistaken and that Brown actually used his personal firearm, and that the shots were not aimed at anyone.

The “Stand Your Ground” motion filed by Brown’s attorney alleges that Nantambu also attacked Brown backstage during 2023 Rolling Loud, and was jailed in Dubai in 2022 for stealing Brown’s jewelry. The motion also claimed Nantambu had publicly issued threats at Brown, including stating “your days are numbered.”

The motion claims Nantambu knew Brown was at the boxing event because Brown had been livestreaming, and said Nantambu waited outside the event for an opportunity to confront Brown.

As Brown exited, he spotted Nantambu quickly approaching him and saw him “tucking his chain inside his shirt,” the motion said.

He attacked Brown, who suffered injuries to his eye, knee and hands as others joined in the assault and Brown became in fear for his life, the motion said.

“Fearing additional violence and believing he may encounter Nantambu again while attempting to reach his vehicle, Brown retrieved his concealed firearm, for which he lawfully possessed a permit,” the motion said.

In video posted on Only in Dade, Brown was seen an altercation with several individuals. At one point, he was seen running and a gunshot was heard. 

Brown ran to his car but again encountered Nantambu, who he feared was armed and “made an aggressive movement towards him,” the motion said.

“In that moment, Brown again reasonably feared death or great bodily harm. In response, he fired two warning shots, intentionally aiming away from Nantambu to ensure he would not be struck,” the motion said. “Brown hoped the warning shots would deter Nantambu’s aggression, allowing Brown to safely reach his vehicle and leave the scene.”

The motion claimed there was a struggle, and Nantambu took Brown’s gun and then fled the scene with the weapon, while Brown stayed at the scene and complied with law enforcement.

Brown was not immediately arrested that night because initially, police did not identify Nantambu as a victim. It wasn’t until May 21 that Nantambu gave a full statement about the incident to police and identified Brown as the shooter, the affidavit says.

Brown has said on social media that he was defending himself from an attack and that others were trying to steal jewelry from him.