The GoFundMe page for Brian said he immediately went into intensive care at a local hospital. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze tweeted that there was a “setback” in Brian’s condition Sunday and that he was still on a ventilator as of Monday. The Tampa Bay Times reported Brian was shot in the head.
On Wednesday, Darryl Brookins, 28, was arrested by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, and is being charged with murder, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm as a felon.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, which received a copy of the arrest affidavit, security footage shows Brian and Tommie approached Brookins shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday at a Sarasota shopping center. Brookins pulled a gun and began firing, and the Battie brothers fired back before both being shot.
A video from ABC 7 in Sarasota shows people at the other end of the shopping center react to the gunfire.
Brian played his first three college seasons at South Florida, where he amassed 1,841 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He was a consensus All-American kick returner in 2021, when he led the nation at 32.5 yards per return, and housed three kicks for touchdowns.
Brian transferred to Auburn last January. In his lone season as a Tiger, he rushed for 227 yards and a touchdown, and returned 28 kickoffs.
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