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Former NFL player Antonio Brown is returning to Miami to confront an attempted murder accusation related to a shooting that occurred in May, as his attorney submitting a not guilty response on his behalf.

Correctional records in Essex County, New Jersey, show that Brown was freed on Tuesday early for his move to Florida. Brown, one of the most popular athletes in the National Football League, had forgone transfer to Florida from New Jersey, where he was taken after being apprehended in the city of Dubai.

Brown’s counsel, Mark Eiglarsh, stated in an communication that he has earlier submitted a written not guilty declaration to the attempted murder allegation. Brown could be in a Miami hearing as soon as Wednesday morning for a release session, Eiglarsh added.

Based on his apprehension document, Brown is charged of seizing a pistol from a protection guard after a celebrity boxing contest in May and shooting multiple shots at a man he had fought with earlier. The alleged individual, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, stated to authorities that one of the bullets grazed his nape.

Eiglarsh asserted that Brown was simply protecting himself from Nantambu.

“The measures he was forced to take were solely in self-protection against the reported victim’s hostile conduct. Brown was attacked that evening and behaved within his rightful entitlement to protect himself,” Eiglarsh commented.

Brown was not right away detained because initially police did not consider Nantambu as a target. It not until later in May that Nantambu delivered a detailed statement about the event to authorities and identified Brown as the gunman, the report says.

Based on his social media updates, Brown had been residing in Dubai for several months. In a message after the confrontation, Brown claimed he was safeguarding himself because he was “assaulted by several individuals who sought to steal my possessions and cause bodily damage to me.”

A level two murder attempt charge in the state of Florida imposes a utmost 15-year prison penalty and up to a $10,000 penalty in the case of a conviction.

Brown has dealt with multiple court challenges over the years. He previously had been alleged of assault of a delivery operator, various abuse allegations, inability to pay parental support and further incidents.

In a 2021 season match with his team against the New York Jets, Brown stripped off his uniform, shoulder pads and handwear and left the arena, causing his dismissal by the Buccaneers and effectively halting his football journey.

Brown, who spent a dozen years in the National Football League, was an All-Pro player who devoted most of his tenure with his team. For his career, Brown had 928 receptions for more than 12,291 distance, the 28th most of record. He was a 7-time prestigious choice.