Auburn Tigers running back Brian Battie was injured in a fatal shooting early Saturday morning in Sarasota, Florida, according to a team spokesman and local police.
Tommie Battie pronounced dead
Battie’s brother, Tommie Battie, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting occurred around 3:30 a.m. at the Tallywood Centre Plaza in Sarasota.
In addition to the Auburn player, four other individuals were hospitalized with injuries.
“We are aware of the situation and are continuing to gather information,” an Auburn spokesman said to multiple media outlets.
The community mourns Tommie Battie
Tommie Battie, a former cornerback at Sarasota and Braden River High Schools, did not pursue football beyond high school. His former coach at Braden River, Curt Bradley, expressed his sorrow over Tommie’s death.
“There are no words that can bring the comfort necessary, but we are a family that believes in the power of prayer,” Bradley said.
“We will be praying and believing for Brian to make a full recovery, and for the Battie family to know that Tommie’s impact will be forever felt in this community.”
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting, which saw deputies responding to a large crowd and multiple victims at the scene.
Brian Battie remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
Brian Battie’s career at Auburn
Brian Battie served as Auburn’s primary kick return specialist last season, was instrumental in the Tigers’ special teams unit.
He averaged 23 yards per return, ranking fifth in the SEC, and posted 49 yards per kick return. Battie also contributed in the running game, rushing for 227 yards on 51 carries and scoring one touchdown last season.
Prior to his tenure at Auburn, Battie played three seasons at the University of South Florida, where he was a standout performer.
He was named a consensus All-American in 2021 and earned second-team All-AAC honors in 2022 after rushing for 1,186 yards and eight touchdowns.
Battie’s high school career was equally impressive. As a senior at Sarasota High in 2019, he rushed for 1,182 yards and 16 touchdowns despite battling a turf toe injury.
He transferred to Sarasota High after excelling at Braden River High, where he rushed for 2,133 yards in 2018.
