A judge ordered Antonio Brown’s accuser to appear in court after he missed a scheduled Zoom deposition. The ruling could shape Brown’s legal fight.
Antonio Brown’s attempted-murder case took a new turn after the man at the center of the allegations failed to attend a scheduled deposition in Florida, prompting a judge to order him to appear in court days later.
Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu. the 41-year-old who claimed the former NFL star tried to shoot him outside a Miami boxing event last year. was listed to give testimony via Zoom at 10am on Wednesday.. But according to a court filing provided to the Daily Mail by Brown’s attorney. Mark Eiglarsh. Nantambu did not join the deposition by 10:10.
Judge Tinkler Mendez then issued an order directing Nantambu to appear before the Miami-Dade County Judicial Circuit Court on Friday morning to explain the absence, according to a press release from Eiglarsh’s firm. The Daily Mail sought confirmation from court officials.
While Eiglarsh said Nantambu was “properly served. ” Nantambu told the Daily Mail by phone that he had been completely unaware of both the scheduled deposition and the judge’s Friday order requiring him to appear in person.. Nantambu said he did not know, and described himself as a New Orleans resident.
The missed deposition may be significant for Brown, whose defense is seeking to dismiss the case based on Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. Brown has claimed that on May 16, 2025, when he was seen in viral video running toward a melee while holding a firearm, he was acting in self-defense.
The case has been closely watched since the shooting occurred outside an Adin Ross boxing event. where Brown and Nantambu unexpectedly crossed paths.. Nantambu alleged that Brown called security to swarm him before running toward a gun. and he described a chaotic fight in which he said he ended up throwing Brown to the ground after a gun fell near them.
Brown’s attorney characterized the defense theory in an associated motion to dismiss. acknowledging that Brown fled the brawl only to return with a concealed firearm.. Eiglarsh’s filing argued that Brown fired “warning shots” while “intentionally aiming away” from Nantambu so he would not be struck. saying the goal was to deter Nantambu’s aggression and allow Brown to reach his vehicle and leave.
Nantambu. who is also tied to another legal dispute from recent high-profile events. is facing additional pressure as he moves toward a separate sentencing in Louisiana.. Earlier this week. New Orleans judge Juana Marine-Lombard found Nantambu guilty of resisting an officer. while finding him not guilty of disturbing the peace by interrupting a lawful assembly.
That finding came after Nantambu’s on-stage protest during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance in February of 2025 in New Orleans.. The protest was intended to raise awareness of refugees reportedly killed in Gaza and Sudan.. Nantambu could receive up to six months in prison for the protest-related conviction.
Despite saying he was pleased with Lombard’s ruling. Nantambu also expressed anxiety about his June 1 sentencing. telling the Daily Mail. “I pray I’m not incarcerated behind this.” The sentencing timetable arrives while the Florida attempted-murder case remains active and while Friday’s court appearance has been ordered.
The NFL’s interest in Nantambu’s legal situation was also part of his account.. Nantambu told the Daily Mail that he saw what he believed were high-ranking league security officials at his trial. adding that he noticed two individuals tied to the league.. He said that when he saw someone in a suit with an NFL pin. he believed the league was taking the case seriously.
Separate from the attempted-murder matter. it was reported that Nantambu’s attorney previously argued Lombard’s ruling “assures that the NFL does not dictate how the criminal legal system works.” Separately. the Daily Mail sought comment from the NFL about Nantambu. who has reportedly been banned from league games for life.
Brown has pleaded not guilty in the attempted-murder case and, if convicted, could face up to 30 years in prison.. The broader timeline underscores why the deposition dispute matters: Brown’s defense is attempting to steer the case early by arguing Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law applies to the events as he describes them.
The attempted-murder allegation is not the only chapter in a long-running conflict between the two men.. They have been feuding since 2022. when Nantambu claimed Brown stole a valuable pendant of his in Dubai ahead of a Floyd Mayweather Jr.. boxing event.. Nantambu also said Brown lied to police in the United Arab Emirates. accusing him of theft. which resulted in Nantambu’s brief imprisonment.
Eiglarsh’s motion to dismiss frames Nantambu as the initial aggressor in that earlier dispute. citing an allegation that Nantambu was jailed in Dubai for thirty days after stealing Brown’s jewelry.. Nantambu later sued Brown in Florida in 2022. and it was reported that he ultimately won a $968. 960 verdict that was later vacated in 2024 before the case was dismissed.
The legal back-and-forth has continued even after the earlier verdict was removed. Nantambu reportedly pursued a partial reduced judgment of $123,600 in federal bankruptcy court as Brown continued to deny the theft allegations, according to filings.
As the attempted-murder case develops, attention has also remained on Brown’s broader personal situation. Brown was arrested in November after fleeing to the UAE following the shooting and has since been released from jail on $25,000 bond as his former Florida home has surfaced on the market.
The report notes that it is unclear whether Brown is the seller of the property or whether he has already been relieved of the home as part of liquidation. and it states that a transaction record shows the property was put up for sale by Brown in March of 2024 without listing a buyer.. Brown purchased the property in 2021, while he was still with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Brown’s looming attempted-murder trial is described as the latest dramatic chapter in a turbulent period that derailed his career after his playing days.. A legendary receiver for the Steelers who later won a title with the Buccaneers. Brown’s NFL career was repeatedly disrupted by on- and off-field incidents involving trainers. teammates. coaches and executives.
The report also recalls that the seven-time Pro Bowler last appeared on the field in January 2022, when he was seen arguing with Buccaneers coaches and ripping off his pads during a game against the Jets. He then left the field and did not play another NFL game.
Meanwhile, for Nantambu, the next steps are now set by the court.. With Friday’s appearance ordered after he missed a scheduled deposition in Florida. the question becomes whether his presence can satisfy procedural requirements and how that will influence the pace and posture of Brown’s attempt to challenge the case.
Whether the deposition absence ultimately becomes a procedural complication or a minor detour. it comes at a moment when the legal battle hinges on self-defense arguments and when Nantambu is also navigating separate sentencing fallout connected to his public protest on a world stage during the Super Bowl.. For both sides, timing is likely to matter as the courtroom schedule tightens.
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