Breaking news:Brian Battie announce his departure and decommit leaving Auburn tigers…
Brian Battie
Brian Battie continues his road to recovery five months after he was seriously injured in a shooting that killed his brother, Tommie Battie, and left him with a traumatic brain injury.
The Auburn running back and former Sarasota football star was discharged from the hospital and was able to visit his teammates and coaches at the Iron Bowl on Nov. 30. His mother Adriene Battie wrote in a GoFundMe that they were able to surprise the team with the visit. As Brian Battie continues to make progress in his recovery, his family has raised $126,000 of their $250,000 fundraising goal.
“This milestone didn’t come easy,” Adrienne Battie wrote in a GoFundMe update. “Brian has worked tirelessly over the past 5 months, pouring his heart into therapy to rebuild his strength and spirit. His determination, along with the support from Sarasota Memorial Rehab and this amazing community, made this trip possible.”
Over the course of therapy, Brian Battie has grown from giving his family a thumbs-up from a hospital bed to standing on his own while visiting his Auburn teammates. He began hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy on Dec. 2 – the treatment involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber to heal damaged tissue.
Sarasota Memorial Rehab couldn’t respond to requests for comment by Herald-Tribune reporters out of concern for his privacy.
Every win in Brian Battie’s recovery reminds the family of what they’ve lost. Adrienne Battie wrote in a GoFundMe update that Brian Battie’s recovery is bittersweet, citing the loss of their other son.
“It’s a new and challenging reality, one we never expected to face,” Adrienne Battie wrote in the GoFundMe update. “Missing our son and watching our other son continue to face his mental and physical challenges reminds us of the long road ahead.”
Darryl Bernard Brookins Jr., 28, was identified as the suspect in the Tallywood Centre Plaza parking lot shooting that also injured three others early on a Saturday morning. He was arrested on May 22, two days after the shooting. The two brothers were in the parking lot of Hookah Lounge Marrakech when the shooting occurred at 3:30 a.m.
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 immediately drawing a firearm and began shooting at the brothers. Both Tommie IV and Brian Battie returned gunfire.
Brookins faces charges for homicide and attempted murder, second-degree felonies. He has a case management scheduled for Jan. 22.
“Through the pain, we hold tightly to our faith and are reminded of the love and support that surrounds us. Your kindness, prayers, and generosity have been a beacon of hope for our family.”
