The mother of Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell was found dead in her Atlanta home, and her son, Ciarre Campbell, has been charged with murder, according to police.
Authorities responded to a welfare check at Nateal Campbell's residence in the Buckhead neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon after relatives expressed concern for the 71-year-old's well-being. Upon arrival, officers found Nateal Campbell unresponsive and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police reported that a male individual had barricaded himself inside the home. Officers entered the residence and detained the individual, who was later identified as Ciarre Campbell. The 41-year-old was taken into custody and booked into the Fulton County Jail on Wednesday morning.
Ciarre Campbell faces charges including murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony, according to jail records. The details surrounding the suspected murder are still under investigation, but authorities have obtained search warrants for the home, clothing, and DNA.
Atlanta Police stated that officers had previously responded to the residence for a possible arson incident and indications of mental health issues involving an individual. It is not yet clear if Ciarre Campbell resided with his mother at the time of the incident.
Nateal Campbell was the matriarch of a family that includes her son Calais Campbell, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and a prominent figure in the NFL. Calais Campbell, along with his mother, also co-founded the Charles Richard Campbell Foundation, named after his late father, which focuses on teaching life skills to young people.
The family released a statement expressing their devastation and seeking privacy during their period of grief. "While the details of her passing are still being investigated, we take comfort in knowing she is reunited with our father, her beloved Chuck, and in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," the statement read.