SARASOTA, Fla. — Former University of South Florida football player Brian Battie remains critically injured after a weekend shooting in Sarasota that killed his brother.

According to reports from the Tampa Bay Times, Battie, 22, is on a ventilator after a setback prevented him from breathing on his own.

Battie was one of four people wounded early Saturday after a shooting in the 3400 block of 17th Street, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

Battie’s older brother Tommie, 24, died in the shooting.

Brian Battie played at USF for three seasons before transferring to Auburn last season. He earned All-American honors as a kick-returner while at USF and ran for more than 1,000 in 2022.  

Battie played high school football at Braden River High in Manatee County and Sarasota High.

A GoFundMe that was launched to support the Battie family in the wake of the tragedy has raised about $64,000 out of its $100,000 goal as of late Monday afternoon.

 


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