Details emerge regarding Brian Battie shooting, suspect makes first court appearance
AUBURN — Details have emerged regarding the shooting that critically injured Auburn football running back Brian Battie and killed his brother, Tommie Battie IV.
Darryl Bernard Brookins Jr. was arrested Wednesday as a suspect in the shooting, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said in a release. He was charged with murder, attempted murder and as a felon in possession of a firearm, and he was booked into the Sarasota County Correctional Facility.
According to a subsequent probable cause affidavit, police say "several individuals" called 911 at approximately 3:30 a.m. ET on May 18 to report a shooting that occurred in the proximity of Hookah Lounge Marrakech, a business in Battie's hometown of Sarasota, Florida. Upon arriving to the scene, officers found five victims with gunshot wounds. Tommie Battie IV sustained a single gunshot wound to his chest and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Brian Battie was "critically injured" with a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
The three additional victims, two males and a female ranging in age from 36 to 46, were transported to Sarasota and Manatee Memorial Hospital and treated for gunshot wounds. The affidavit did not state whether the victims knew either Brian or Tommie Battie.
Video footage from surrounding businesses show Brookins leaning on the window of a nearby business before the shooting began, according to the affidavit, which also states Brian and Tommie Battie are seen "walking towards Brookins." At that point, Brookins "immediately drew a firearm and began shooting" at the brothers. Both Brian and Tommie returned fire, the affidavit says. Brian fell to the ground first, followed by Tommie.
Brookins fled the scene on foot, leaving behind his vehicle, which was later located "just west of the shooting location." In the hours after the shooting, multiple Crimestoppers tips reported Brookins was the shooter. After comparing the photo on his license and pictures from social media to the surveillance footage, the affidavit says detectives were able to positively identify Brookins as the shooter.
The 28-year-old Brookins, who has four prior felony convictions, appeared in court Thursday for the first time since the shooting. His attorney, Jacob Grollman, told reporters outside the courtroom that his client acted in self defense, according to Fox 13 Tampa Bay.
"Unfortunately, law enforcement and the state attorney's office were not interested in hearing Mr. Brookins' version of events before submitting a warrant for his arrest," Grollman told reporters. Brookins is scheduled to have a pretrial detention hearing Friday, per Fox 13 Tampa Bay.
Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze gave a brief update on Battie's status with a social media post Monday: "Auburn family. Please continue to pray for Brian Battie," Freeze wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "There was a set back last night and he’s still on a ventilator. #AUSTRONG."
An earlier report Sunday from Sarasota Herald-Tribune sports columnist Doug Fernades said that after undergoing surgery Saturday night, Brian Battie was able to "open his eyes and move his hands."
A GoFundMe has been set up to support the Battie family. As of 2:30 p.m. CT on Friday, it has collected more than $100,000.
Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rich_silva18.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Brian Battie: Details emerge regarding shooting involving Auburn RB
