Former Detroit Lions Linebacker Antwione Williams Charged with Assaulting Police During Jan. 6 Riot

Mar. 15, 2025

Detroit Lions Linebacker Antwione Williams before a game against the Houston Texans on Oct. 30, 2016.Photo:Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Former Detroit Lions linebacker Leander Antwione Williams has been arrested on felony charges in connection with the riot at theU.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, PEOPLE can confirm.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 7, the 31-year-old former NFL player is being accused of multiple misdemeanors, as well as felony charges of civil disorder, assaulting, resisting or impeding police.

Williams can allegedly be seen in police body camera footage and other videos captured during the 2021 incident at Capitol Hill assaulting an officer and destructing bike rack barricades at the scene.

FBI agents said they visited an address on record for Williams in connection with the investigation, where they identified the key fob on Williams' person to the video footage.

Additionally, Williams' height, weight and build match the description of the man in the footage, and authorities included a still from when the former NFL player momentarily removed his face mask to relieve the effects of chemical irritants at the scene.

The documents said Williams was participating in chanting “U.S.A” during the riot and remained on Capitol grounds until the evening of Jan. 6.

The charges against Williams are the first from the Jan. 6 riot to come out since former President Donald Trump wasreelected for a second termon Nov. 5, 2024.

source: people.com