Girlfriend of suspect in Brian Battie shooting arrested, accused of helping him cover up crime

SARASOTA, Florida. – Investigators have arrested the girlfriend of the man accused in a Sarasota County shooting that injured Auburn football player Brian Battie and killed his brother in May.

According to an arrest affidavit, Nicole Roberts, 29, helped Darryl Brookins drive away from the scene of the May 18 shooting in a rental car and then got rid of the gun that detectives used to commit the crime.

The sheriff's office said Brookins opened fire in the Tallywood Center Plaza parking lot early in the morning, hitting five people. Records show Tommie Battie IV and Brian Battie fought back.

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Tommie Battie IV died while Brian suffered a serious gunshot wound to the head. Court records later showed that Brian Battie, who played football at the University of South Florida before transferring to Auburn, may be permanently paralyzed as a result of his injuries.

According to the latest affidavit, Roberts drove Brookins from the scene in a Hyundai Elantra rented under his name, with surveillance video showing Roberts throwing a gun into the Manatee River in the hours after the shooting.

Investigators later recovered a Glock 9mm handgun from the river.

Roberts' arrest report says she went to a Walgreens near University Parkway about eight hours after the shooting and purchased several first aid items, including tape to close wounds, as well as 'a spray to clot the blood.

Roberts was later arrested and faces an accessory charge. She is expected back in court Friday.

Brookins is being held without bail on charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder.

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