Antonio Brown Seeks Dismissal of Murder Charge Under Stand Your Ground
Former NFL star Antonio Brown has filed a motion to dismiss a second-degree murder charge against him in Miami, invoking Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. The motion, filed on Monday and shared with media outlets by Brown’s attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, outlines claims of self-defense related to a shooting incident that took place on May 16, 2025, outside an amateur boxing match.
Brown, aged 37, was extradited from Dubai by U.S. marshals after nearly six months abroad. Upon his return to Miami last month, he pleaded not guilty and was arraigned. The motion states that Brown’s use of force was justified, asserting that he believed the alleged victim, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, intended to inflict serious harm.
The legal defense cites Florida’s law, enacted in 2005, which eliminates the duty to retreat before using deadly force in certain situations and offers immunity from prosecution. If convicted, Brown could face up to 30 years in prison.
The incident has drawn parallels to the notorious case involving the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2007, where George Zimmerman was acquitted after claiming self-defense. Although Zimmerman did not directly invoke the Stand Your Ground law during his trial, the jury was instructed on the principles of Florida law regarding self-defense.
Brown’s motion emphasizes a history of violence from Nantambu, including an alleged jewelry theft in Dubai that led to Nantambu spending 30 days in jail. According to the motion, Brown was trying to reach his car for safety when Nantambu attacked him. However, police reports indicate that Brown punched Nantambu before pursuing him and firing a weapon, which is captured on security footage.
The police described the incident, stating that after Nantambu walked away, Brown chased him down and fired at him from close range. The video evidence reportedly shows Brown holding a gun near Nantambu, followed by two gunshots. The police noted that Nantambu ducked after the first shot was fired.
While acknowledging that Brown was the shooter, the motion argues that he “reasonably feared” Nantambu was armed and that Nantambu made an “aggressive movement” towards him. The document claims that Brown fired two “warning shots” intentionally away from Nantambu to avoid injury.
In contrast, Nantambu’s attorney, Richard L. Cooper, has characterized the defense motion as a “farcical reimagining” of the events. He asserts that Brown intended to kill Nantambu, stating, “By the grace of God, he was not killed.” Cooper also suggested that Brown believed he could evade extradition to the United States while in Dubai and flaunted his presence on social media.
Following his return to Miami, Brown was released on $25,000 bail and placed under house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor. Brown, who had a successful 12-year career in the NFL, is best known for his time as an All-Pro wide receiver, primarily with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and last played in 2021 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
As the case unfolds, the implications for both Brown and Nantambu continue to garner significant media attention, reflecting broader discussions surrounding self-defense laws in the United States.
