Antonio Brown Plea Deal Delayed in Attempted Murder Case

Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown appeared in court on Wednesday for a hearing where he was expected to enter a no-contest plea as part of an agreement with prosecutors in his attempted second-degree murder case. However, Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez postponed the hearing, rescheduling it for late October.

Mendez stated that she was unable to proceed with the change of plea because she was presiding over a capital sentencing hearing and needed more time to become fully briefed on Brown's case.

Brown, 38, was accused of firing gunshots outside a boxing event on May 16, 2025. The incident occurred after an encounter with Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, a jewelry designer with whom Brown had a long-standing dispute. According to reports, Brown allegedly fired shots after an altercation, claiming self-defense. His attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, has stated that Brown fired "warning shots" intentionally away from Nantambu to deter aggression and allow his client to escape safely.

Eiglarsh had announced on September 23 that Brown intended to change his plea, calling the deal an offer "he couldn't refuse." The agreement is intended to help Brown avoid a prison sentence of up to 30 years, replacing it with probation. Eiglarsh expressed that Brown is eager to resolve the case, which has been ongoing for over ten months, to focus on his children, professional opportunities, and personal life.

Nantambu, Brown's alleged target, has stated he does not wish to participate in the prosecution and publicly forgave the former NFL player. Nantambu had previously accused Brown of theft in Dubai in 2022, leading to Nantambu's brief imprisonment and a subsequent civil suit in Florida. That lawsuit resulted in a $968,960 verdict for Nantambu, which was later vacated, though he pursued a reduced judgment of $123,600 in federal bankruptcy court.

Video footage from the 2025 incident appears to show Brown returning to a confrontation with a firearm. Nantambu has claimed a bullet grazed his neck and he broke a finger during the altercation. Following the incident, police made no arrests, and Brown initially posted on social media considering legal action against those he claimed "jumped" him. He subsequently fled to Dubai before being extradited to the U.S. in November and was released on a $25,000 bond. His former Florida home was also listed for sale in March 2024.