The attempted murder case against former Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown has taken a dramatic turn, as the alleged victim announced he will no longer cooperate with Florida state prosecutors.
According to an ESPN report, the man at the center of the case, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, has made a deeply personal decision to "forgive" Brown, citing his religious beliefs as a guiding factor.
In an official statement released by his defense attorney, Richard L. Cooper, Nantambu stated that after considerable prayer and reflection, he considers the matter closed:
- "For Mr. Nantambu, forgiveness does not diminish the seriousness of what occurred. It means refusing to allow anger or resentment to dictate how he moves forward."
- Nantambu explicitly stated he "does not wish to participate in [Brown's] prosecution".
The update comes as Brown’s defense team, led by attorney Mark Eiglarsh, actively fights to have the case entirely thrown out.
- Brown faces an attempted second-degree murder charge following a fight outside an amateur boxing match in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood, where police allege Brown fired shots that grazed Nantambu's neck. Eiglarsh previously filed a motion to dismiss under Florida's Stand Your Ground law, arguing Brown fired warning shots in self-defense after being targeted by an aggressive crowd.
- While the primary witness is refusing to testify, the State of Florida can still choose to press forward using available video evidence and police reports. If the state proceeds and Brown is ultimately convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to 30 years in state prison.