LONDON, Nov. 7, 2025 — Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown has been extradited to the United States from Dubai to answer an attempted murder charge stemming from an alleged shooting at a boxing event in Miami in May.
According to U.S. law enforcement, Brown arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday and was taken into custody at the Essex County Jail in Newark, New Jersey. Authorities in Miami say Brown is expected to be transferred to South Florida to face proceedings related to the incident.
The charge relates to an allegation that Brown fired a gun at 41-year-old Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu during a boxing event hosted by influencer Adin Ross. Investigators say the two men knew each other prior to the confrontation. Court records cited by Miami media indicate Brown had previously accused Nantambu of stealing $3 million in jewellery, a claim that was later rejected in overseas proceedings after Nantambu was detained in Oman and the United Arab Emirates before being exonerated.
Brown, 37, had been living in Dubai since June 11, the date a warrant was issued for his arrest. In a post on X dated May 17, he claimed he was “jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm,” an assertion that appeared to reference the fracas surrounding the Miami event.
What happens next
Brown is currently being held in New Jersey while authorities coordinate his transfer to Miami-Dade County. Upon arrival in Florida, he is expected to be booked on the attempted murder charge and presented in court, where issues such as bond, travel restrictions, and the timetable for preliminary hearings will be determined by a judge.
As with any criminal case, Brown is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Prosecutors will need to establish probable cause at the early stages and later prove the elements of the offence beyond a reasonable doubt should the case proceed to trial.
A turbulent post-NFL chapter
Once one of the NFL’s most electrifying receivers, Brown last played a regular-season game in the 2021 campaign. His post-football years have been marked by a series of controversies and legal disputes, overshadowing earlier on-field achievements including a Super Bowl title and multiple Pro Bowl selections.
The Miami case represents the most serious allegation he has faced to date and will draw intense scrutiny given his public profile and the growing role of influencer-driven events in sports and entertainment.
Key timeline
- May 2025: Alleged shooting at a Miami boxing event involving Brown and Nantambu.
- May 17, 2025: Brown posts on X claiming he was attacked and targeted for robbery.
- June 11, 2025: Arrest warrant issued; Brown relocates to Dubai.
- Nov. 6, 2025: U.S. Marshals confirm Brown’s arrival at Newark and transfer to Essex County Jail pending extradition to Miami.
The broader picture
The case intersects with several modern flashpoints: the security of high-profile influencer events, the rapid spread of claims and counterclaims on social media, and the complexities of cross-border detention and exoneration. With international elements already in play and a celebrity defendant at its centre, the proceedings in Miami are likely to become both a legal test and a media spectacle.
Authorities in New Jersey and Florida have not released further details about the timing of Brown’s transfer or his initial court appearance. Nantambu has not made a public statement since the latest developments.
