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Former National Football League star Antonio Brown is returning to Miami to address an murder attempt charge stemming from a shooting that happened in May, as his lawyer filing a innocent response on his behalf.

Detention documents in Essex, New Jersey, show that Brown was freed on Tuesday morning for his transfer to the state of Florida. Brown, among the most famous athletes in the NFL, had waived transfer to Florida from New Jersey, where he was held after being taken into custody in the city of Dubai.

Brown’s counsel, Mark Eiglarsh, stated in an email that he has already filed a documented innocent plea to the murder attempt charge. Brown could be in a Miami hearing as soon as Wednesday early for a release proceeding, Eiglarsh added.

Based on his arrest warrant, Brown is accused of taking a firearm from a security guard after a public figure boxing bout in May and firing multiple shots at a man he had clashed with before. The alleged individual, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, informed investigators that one shot touched his neck.

Eiglarsh asserted that Brown was only protecting himself from Nantambu.

“The measures he was compelled to take were exclusively in self-protection against the reported individual’s violent actions. Brown was assaulted that night and behaved within his rightful right to safeguard himself,” Eiglarsh commented.

Brown was not promptly apprehended because initially police did not recognize Nantambu as a affected party. It wasn’t until afterward in May that Nantambu delivered a full testimony about the event to officers and named Brown as the perpetrator, the affidavit says.

Based on his digital posts, Brown had been staying in Dubai for several weeks. In a post after the altercation, Brown said he was protecting himself because he was “jumped by multiple persons who tried to steal my valuables and cause personal injury to me.”

A category two murder attempt accusation in the state of Florida imposes a highest 15-year prison term and up to a $10,000 penalty in the case of a finding.

Brown has faced numerous judicial challenges over the time. He previously had been accused of physical attack of a truck employee, several domestic violence accusations, failure to pay family payments and other occurrences.

In a 2021 game with the Buccaneers against the Jets, Brown removed his jersey, protective gear and handwear and ran off the field, resulting in his dismissal by the team and effectively halting his NFL career.

Brown, who spent a dozen years in the league, was an elite receiver who devoted most of his tenure with Pittsburgh. During his professional life, Brown had over 900 grabs for over twelve thousand two hundred ninety-one distance, the 28th highest of record. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl pick.