Former NFL receiver Antonio Brown is asking a Florida court to throw out his attempted murder charge by arguing that he acted in lawful self-defense under the state’s “stand your ground” law.
In a filing submitted this week, his attorneys say AB believed he was in serious danger during a confrontation at a Miami celebrity boxing event on May 16, 2025.
The motion acknowledges that Brown fired a gun during the incident, but his team describes the shots as warnings intended to scare off someone they claim had already attacked him. According to the filing, AB thought he faced possible death or severe injury in the moment he pulled the trigger.
BREAKING
— Simo Saadi (@Simo7809957085) November 6, 2025
Antonio Brown in
custody after being extradited from Dubai on attempted murder charge six months on from gun-wielding brawl pic.twitter.com/4d5XRjripp
Florida’s “stand your ground” law removes the duty to retreat before using deadly force if a person believes harm is imminent. Whether the athlete’s situation meets that standard would ultimately be decided by a judge or jury.
Legal experts note that using this defense often requires the defendant to testify, which means Brown may have to explain his actions directly to jurors.
Brown, once one of the NFL’s most electrifying wideouts, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. The charge carries a potential mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years.
