Copyright NBC News
Former NFL star Antonio Brown was captured, officials said Thursday, ending a 4 1/2-month-long search for the one-time wide receiver who is accused of opening fire at a crowded Miami event. Miami police spokesperson Mike Vega confirmed Brown's apprehension, but declined to elaborate on where or exactly when the former player taken into custody. "Miami Police confirm that U.S. Marshals have apprehended Antonio Brown and that he has been extradited to the U.S.," Vega said. "No date has been set for his transfer to Miami-Dade County." Brown was wanted in connection to a shooting on May 16 outside of an amateur boxing event in the Little Haiti neighborhood of Miami, where videos appeared to show the former player in a melee where gunshots could be heard. Brown, 37, has been posting regularly on his social media accounts, despite his attempt to evade capture. Just last week, he posted an advertisement for online sports betting website BC Game to his more than 15 million followers on Instagram. The video showed Brown at an unspecified location behind the wheel of a black Lamborghini. "Locked in, living good, and VIP energy hits different,” he wrote, adding a diamond emoji. "Appreciate the love!" One of the comments appeared to acknowledge the charges against Brown. “On the run is crazy lmaooooo,” the user wrote. Brown played in part of 12 seasons in the NFL, most with the Pittsburgh Steelers where he once appeared to be on a Hall of Fame trajectory. He led the league in receiving yards in 2014 and 2017 and in TD catches in 2018. Brown caught a scoring pass in the 2021 Super Bowl, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs to end that closed-door Covid season.
