Atlanta Police have released a distressing 911 call detailing fears for the wellbeing of Nateal Campbell, the mother of NFL player Calais Campbell, before she was allegedly murdered by her son at her home. Officers responded to the residence in the Buckhead neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon and found Nateal Campbell, 71, unresponsive with a fatal injury to her throat.
Her son, 41-year-old Ciarre Campbell, was taken into custody at the scene. He has been charged with two counts of murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony.
The 911 call, made by one of Calais Campbell's brothers, highlighted concerns about Ciarre Campbell's mental state. The caller, identified only as 'Mr. Campbell,' informed the dispatcher that his brother, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and other conditions, lives with their mother and that the family was trying to gain entry to the home that morning.
"We're trying to get in," the caller stated. "My brother, he's mentally ill, he's been diagnosed with schizophrenia and some other things. He stays with my mother."
The caller also mentioned that a neighbor had reported seeing Ciarre Campbell driving his mother's car away from the residence, which he found highly unusual as Ciarre does not typically drive and their mother had not allowed him to.
Witnesses from a neighbor's camera footage indicated that Nateal Campbell had not left the house, contradicting Ciarre Campbell's claim to the callers that their mother was not home. The caller described his mother as older but without specific medical, physical, or mental health issues, emphasizing that it was his brother who was mentally ill.
When officers arrived, they found Ciarre Campbell had barricaded himself inside the property. Police gained entry and detained him.
The Campbell family released a statement expressing their devastation at the loss of their matriarch, Nateal Campbell. "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. They requested privacy to grieve.
Calais Campbell is preparing for his 19th NFL season, having recently signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens. He previously played for the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, and Miami Dolphins. In 2019, he was honored with the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his charitable work and was named to the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team.
The Charles Richard Campbell Foundation, co-founded by Calais and his mother, aims to enhance communities by teaching critical life skills to young people. The Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals have issued statements offering condolences and support to Calais and his family during this difficult time.