Brian Hickerson, the ex-boyfriend of the late actress Hayden Panettiere, was handcuffed by police following an altercation at a Greenville, South Carolina restaurant on Saturday. Witnesses reported that patrons at the Wild Wing Cafe confronted Hickerson and his brother, Zach, reportedly referencing Panettiere's August 16 death.
The incident began when the Hickerson brothers, who had been drinking at the restaurant, engaged in a heated exchange with other patrons. An eyewitness told TMZ that a group of about five people at a nearby table initiated the confrontations, with women from that group repeatedly approaching the Hickerson brothers' table.
The situation escalated when Zach Hickerson confronted a male patron, and the altercation appeared to become physical as they moved towards the bar. A table was reportedly overturned and glasses were thrown during the disturbance. Videos obtained by TMZ showed Brian Hickerson picking up a bar stool and throwing it backward. He was then seen being escorted out of the restaurant by another patron as a bartender shouted.
Upon police arrival, Brian and Zach Hickerson were reportedly in conflict with individuals outside the establishment. Brian Hickerson was handcuffed and was heard by witnesses claiming police had leaked details about Panettiere's death. He sustained a facial cut during the altercation. Brian Hickerson was not arrested and was released from the scene.
Zach Hickerson, however, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct due to alleged intoxication and profanity. Both brothers were present at the Greenville condo where Panettiere was pronounced dead at age 36.
According to a Greenville Police Department incident report, Zach Hickerson stated that Brian was in a separate room when he discovered Panettiere unresponsive. He also reported that Brian administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, and that they performed CPR while on the phone with 911 dispatchers.
Brian Hickerson has reportedly met with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of the investigation into Panettiere's suspected overdose death. Authorities are investigating the possibility that the actress was sold drugs that may have contributed to her passing, and efforts are underway to identify a potential dealer. The official cause of death and toxicology reports for Panettiere have not yet been released.
Panettiere and Hickerson had a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship that began in 2018. Hickerson faced multiple domestic violence charges in connection with incidents involving Panettiere. In 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend, leading to jail time, probation, domestic violence classes, restitution, and a five-year protective order.
Zach Hickerson previously told TMZ that "there are a lot of assumptions, speculations and accusations currently swirling" regarding Panettiere's death and that "the truth will come out as the authorities complete and release additional details from the investigation."