Auburn Tigers running back Brian Battie was critically injured in a shooting that claimed the life of his brother early Saturday morning.
Brian and Tommie Battie were among five people shot during an incident in the parking lot at Tallywood Centre Plaza in Sarasota, Florida, according to Sarasota County sheriff’s deputies who spoke to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. First responders arriving at the local shopping center encountered a large crowd surrounding multiple shooting victims.
Authorities pronounced Tommie Battie, 24, dead at the scene. Brian Battie, 22, was transported to the hospital, where he remains in the intensive care unit.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Brian Stultz, a staff writer for Auburn Sports, reported that Brian Battie has movement in his hands, but doctors are still assessing his brain function.
Brian Battie, pictured during his time with the South Florida Bulls in 2022, is in critical condition after being shot in Sarasota early Saturday morning.
Brian Battie, pictured during his time with the South Florida Bulls in 2022, is in critical condition after being shot in Sarasota early Saturday morning. ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES
An Auburn spokesperson told AL.com, an Alabama news site, that the school is aware of the shooting and is continuing to gather information.
Brian Battie spent three seasons at the University of South Florida before transferring to Auburn University for the 2023 season.
While his position as an Auburn running back earned him 227 total yards over 51 rushes, the college junior shined as a return specialist, racking up 645 total yards from 29 kickoff returns.
Brody Wiseman, who coached Brian during his senior season at Sarasota High School, told the Herald-Tribune that Brian Battie was “the most talented player I’ve ever coached.”
