Suspect's girlfriend arrested in Battie brothers shooting

Lina PortmanJune 5, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Investigators arrested the girlfriend of the suspect who shot brothers Tommie Battie IV and Brian Battie, an Auburn running back.

Darryl Brookins Jr.'s girlfriend, Nicole Roberts, 29, was arrested Friday after surveillance footage allegedly showed her disposing of the gun used in the May 18 shooting and buying first aid items hours after the shooting, according to an arrest report filed. with the Sarasota County Court.

Roberts will be charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder with a firearm, authorities said. Brookins was arrested May 22 by Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputies. While a Manatee County Sheriff's Office deputy arrested Roberts, the shooting remains under joint investigation by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

Tommie Battie IV and Brian Battie were in the parking lot of Hookah Lounge Marrakech when the shooting occurred at 3:30 a.m. on May 18. Tommie Battie, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene. His brother, Brian Battie, 22, was transported to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition after suffering a gunshot wound to the head. Court records indicate he faces “a prognosis of permanent paralysis if he survives.”

'Get better':Brian Battie's condition improving and may be paralyzed, court records show

Report provides details of investigation

“During the investigation, it was determined that Nicole Roberts aided and abetted Darryl Brookins with the knowing intent that he committed the crimes and committed several acts that were intended to and which encouraged or assisted Darryl Brookins to actually committed the crimes,” investigators said. alleged in an arrest report.

Investigators said they learned that a white Hyundai Elantra rented by Roberts left the scene of the shooting at 3:26 a.m. At 3:37 a.m., the car stopped in a community adjacent to the shooting scene and headed from where Brookins fled after the shooting. shooting, investigators alleged in the arrest report. The car headed north to Manatee County, where it ended up going in circles through a riverside community of Whitfield.

Brookins Arrest Affidavit:Tommie and Brian Battie involved in shooting with suspect

Investigators concluded the action “appeared like an attempt to throw the firearm into a body of water,” the report states. “However, this was a highly populated residential community with no direct access to the waterfront without being noticed.”

Investigators said they later learned that at 4:06 a.m. the car was in Bradenton, at Riverside Drive East and 24th Street NE, after obtaining surveillance footage showing the car parked along the Manatee River.

The footage shows a woman getting out of the driver's seat, walking onto a dock behind 215 24th Street NE and throwing an object into the Manatee River. The stature and body type of the woman in the video footage matched Roberts, investigators say.

Later that day, the white Hyundai Elantra drove into a Sarasota Walgreens at 3155 University Parkway and a McDonald's at 8494 Lockwood Ridge Road. Roberts was allegedly seen entering Walgreens and purchasing first aid items, including wound closure strips and anti-bleeding spray.

On May 30, detectives with the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Underwater Recovery Force went to 315 24th Street NE in Bradenton and recovered a 9mm Glock firearm in the same area where surveillance footage allegedly captured Roberts throwing it, the report states.

Moments before the shooting, video footage from surrounding businesses showed Brookins leaning against the window of the business, as Tommie IV and Brian Battie walked toward him. Brookins is then seen drawing a gun and shooting the brothers. Tommie IV and Brian Battie fought back. Brian Battie can be seen falling to the ground, while his brother did so shortly after.

Lina Portman

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