Auburn Running Back Brian Battie Shot In Sarasota, Brother Tommie Killed

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Auburn Tigers running back Brian Battie was wounded in a shooting in Sarasota, Fla., on Saturday. His brother, 24-year-old Tommie Battie, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The responding deputies "observed a large crowd with multiple shooting victims in the parking lot" of a shopping plaza, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. The incident, which took place around 3:30 a.m., sent four others to the hospital, including the Tigers running back. Brian was listed in critical condition, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

An Auburn spokesperson said the school is aware of the situation and is continuing to gather information.

Battie, 22, served as Auburn's primary kick returner and provided depth at running back during the 2023 season. He finished fifth in the SEC in kick return average with 23 yards per touch and averaged just under 50 yards per kick return per game. Battie also rushed for 227 yards for the season, scoring a touchdown in the Nov. 11 win against Arkansas. 

Prior to joining Auburn's roster, Battie spent three years at South Florida. He was named a consensus All-American in 2021 after amassing 650 yards and three touchdowns as USF's primary kick returner. He also earned second-team All-AAC honors as a running back in 2022 after rushing for 1,186 yards and eight touchdowns in 12 games.

Both Brian and Tommie were standout athletes at Sarasota High and Braden River High, respectively.

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Amber is a Midwestern transplant living in Murfreesboro, TN. She spends most of her time taking pictures of her dog, explaining why real-life situations are exactly like "this one time on South Park," and being disappointed by the Tennessee Volunteers.