NFL star evades charges over ‘Nerf War’ shooting that saw teenager wounded

Prosecutors have said that NFL player Joe Mixon was armed but did not open fire in the shooting of the 16-year-old.

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Deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office responded to Mr. Nixon’s home on March 6 after witnesses reported hearing shots. A young victim, who was shot in the leg, and other teens were reportedly playing “Nerf war” with toy guns when the shooting began, wlwt informed of.

Prosecutors say Lamonte Brewer, the boyfriend of Mr Nixon’s sister, shot the minor. He faces charges of aggravated assault, tampering with evidence and possession of a weapon while incapacitated, but his whereabouts are unknown.

Mr Mixon’s sister Shalonda Mixon was charged with tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice. He has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutor Melissa Powers said, “The teen heard several shots above his head and immediately took cover behind a tree.” “It’s unbelievable that something like this could happen. It’s hard to understand how someone could point a gun at a child, let alone fire 10 to 11 rounds at him. It’s a miracle he wasn’t killed.” ”

Prosecutors say Mr Mixon was wrongly told there were people with real guns in the backyard of his residence. He then went out armed but did not fire any shot.

A spokeswoman for Mr Mixon told ESPN the Cincinnati Bengals player had received threats following the release of his address in January and was concerned about his safety.

“When another person brandished a firearm, Joe intervened to stop the person wielding the firearm,” the statement said. “Joe hates that a young adult was injured during this incident.”

The victim was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries.

Mr. Mixon was out of town and had returned home with his sister, their five children and Mr. Brewer on the day of the shooting. Ms Powers said Mr Mixon had a license to carry a firearm and had committed no offence.

Ms Mixon and Mr Brewer were stopped later that night as they attempted to leave their brother’s residence Fox 19.

It is not clear how law enforcement lost track of Mr. Brewer.

The principal of the school where the victim studies has warned parents about Dart Wars, saying the toy guns used in the game can be confused with real weapons.

“Many Nerf guns and homemade devices look like a real gun to a person looking at (them) from afar,” Turpin High School David Spencer said in a statement. Cincinnati Enquirer, “In the world we live in today, there can be extreme anxiety and a certain reaction that was unintended by our young adults.”