Bengals RB Joe Mixon won't face charges after shooting investigation at home
Mixon's sister facing charges of evidence tampering and obstructing justice
No charges were filed against Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon after police investigated a shooting at his home on March 6 that left one teenager injured, prosecutors said Thursday.
On March 9, Mixon was cleared as a suspect by police in the shooting that took place outside his residence in Cincinnati. The 16-year-old victim and two others were reportedly running around the neighborhood with Nerf guns playing "dart wars" when someone fired shots at them. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries after reportedly being stuck in the foot and later taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
While prosecutors reiterated Thursday that Mixon "did not commit a crime," investigators said he was seen carrying a weapon he legally owned and registered. Mixon's attorney, Peter Schaffer, detailed in a statement what transpired the night of the shooting. Schaffer wrote that Mixon "had no intention to confront anyone, nor did he. He did not intend to threaten anyone, nor did he. He did not intend to shoot anyone, nor did he."
Mixon, his sister Shalonda, his sister's five children, his sister's boyfriend and Mixon's physical therapist had returned at night from an out-of-town trip and were frightened by the presence of the unknown people running around the house with what appeared to be weapons.
"On the night of the incident, a number of vehicles pulled up in front of Joe's house and blocked the street. This occurred when it was very dark outside," Schaffer wrote. "Joe and his physical therapist witnessed multiple people exit the vehicles carrying what appeared to be weapons as they ran into neighbors' yards.
"... Threats against your life, cars blocking the streets, people running through the neighborhood with what appear to be firearms. Joe and his physical therapist felt threatened and feared for their safety and the safety of the small children in the residence. At this time, Joe called the Bengals director of security to have police dispatched immediately to the residence as he feared for the wellbeing of everyone in the residence. The physical therapist called 911 from a separate room."
Statement from Joe Mixon’s agent @peterjschaffer. pic.twitter.com/CUzuDD3rSq
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 16, 2023
While Mixon faces no charges, his sister and her boyfriend, Lamonte Brewer, were indicted, prosecutors said. Shalonda Mixon faces one count of tampering with evidence and one count of obstructing justice, while Brewer faces one count of felonious assault, one count of tampering with evidence and two counts of having a weapon under disability. Surveillance footage obtained by police showed Brewer firing multiple shots at the teenager, and Shalonda collecting shell casings before fleeing the scene in a vehicle with Brewer.
Brewer faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted, while Shalonda faces a maximum sentence of four years. Neither has been arrested and their whereabouts are unknown, prosecutors said. Brewer reportedly has a "lengthy" criminal record, prosecutors added, and the Zastava weapon Brewer allegedly used resembles an AK-47.
Mixon's recent off-field history
Mixon was the subject of another off-field incident recently.
An arrest warrant was issued in February after he allegedly pointed a gun at a woman in downtown Cincinnati before the Bengals' playoff win over the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 22. Those charges were later dropped, but there is an additional investigation into the case.
Regarding the shooting at his house, Mixon reportedly told prosecutors he had received "multiple threats of physical harm and harassment on social media" after his address was "improperly" released to the public.