A man suspected of shooting Auburn running back Brian Battie and killing his brother, Tommie Battie IV, in Florida was arrested Wednesday.
22-year-old college football star Brian was shot in the early hours of Saturday morning in a Sarasota parking lot. His 24-year-old brother was pronounced dead at the scene.
Darryl Brookins, 28, was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, and as a felon in possession of a firearm, per the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
Sarasota deputies initially responded to a reported shooting in the plaza at approximately 3:30am, Saturday where they found Tommie dead.
Brian and three others were injured in the crossfire, and were transported to hospitals in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
Auburn Tigers running back Brian Battie is in critical condition after a shooting in Florida
He was transported to a local hospital following the shooting, which killed his older brother
The deputies who responded to the incident ‘observed a large crowd with multiple shooting victims in the parking lot,’ per a news release from the sheriff’s office.
Officials said the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident, though it wasn’t revealed what instigated the violence.
As of Monday, Brian was still in critical condition after being wounded during the incident with Auburn Tigers coach Hugh Freeze asking fans to ‘pray’.
‘Auburn family. Please continue to pray for Brian Battie. There was a set back last night and he’s still on a ventilator,’ Freeze wrote on X Monday.
The description of a GoFundMe page setup to benefit the Battie family sadly confirmed Tony’s passing.
‘On May 18, 2024, the Battie family received the most devastating news that Tommie and Brian were victims of a senseless shooting,’ the message began.
‘It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we have to share the unexpected passing of Tommie Battie IV (Pooh). Brian Battie remains in critical condition at a local hospital.’
The description also urged fans to pray for the 22-year-old athlete’s ‘full recovery.’
‘There was a set back last night and he’s still on a ventilator,’ Freeze wrote on X Monday
‘We know he will continue to fight and overcome this, just as he has overcome so many other obstacles in his life,’ the message read.
‘Losing a child so unexpectedly is something unimaginable and something that will never be healed. The family will never be the same without Pooh, and neither will anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.’
Brian rushed for 1,842 yards and scored 10 touchdowns across three seasons playing at South Florida.
He transferred to Auburn for the 2023 season and rushed 51 times for 227 yards and a touchdown.
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