Auburn running back Brian Battie was injured in a shooting on Saturday morning, according to a news release from Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office . His brother Tommie was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police initially reported to the Tallywood Centre Plaza in Sarasota, Florida at approximately 3:30 a.m., where they were greeted by a large crowd and multiple shooting victims in the parking lot. Four individuals, including Battie , were transported to local hospitals. No further details have been confirmed on the severity of their injuries.
"We are aware of the situation and are continuing to gather information," an Auburn spokesperson informed several outlets.
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Battie served primarily as a kick returner last season at Auburn, amassing 645 yards on 28 attempts in 2023. The junior finished fifth in the SEC in kick return average at 23 yards per run back, with his longest return going for 39 yards. He additionally rushed for 227 yards and a touchdown on 51 carries.
Prior to joining the Tigers, Battie spent three seasons at South Florida, where he cemented himself as one of the best kick returners in the country. The Sarasota High School product earned All-American honors in 2021 after recording 650 yards and three touchdowns on just 20 kick returns, marking an incredible 32.5 kick return average.
The following season, Battie was given the starting nod at running back, accumulating 1,186 yards on the ground and eight rushing touchdowns in 12 games for the Bulls en route to earning second-team All-AAC honors. Upon entering the transfer portal the ensuing season, 247Sports rated the halfback as a four-star prospect.
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As a senior at Sarasota High in the 2019-20 season, Battie rushed for 1,182 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 131.3 yards per game, according to MaxPreps .
"In my opinion, he was the most talented player I’ve ever coached," said Brody Wiseman, Sarasota’s offensive coordinator that year, per the Saratoga Herald-Tribune . "He was a two-time All-American in college. You don’t find that too often. He had an amazing burst. His ability to accelerate was better than anybody I’ve seen. He could cut on a dime. And he was a really hard worker. I think a lot of people missed that."
Despite being heavily limited by a turf toe injury he sustained during his junior year, Battie was still able to carry the Sailors’ offense for nine games.
"He was just a tough kid," Wiseman said. "And he really cared about his teammates. He never acted like he was more important than anybody else. On the field, he had great vision. He would see a hole and just hit it a million miles an hour, and he was gone. I never saw anyone tackle him one-on-one. It was always the second and third guy."
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