Girlfriend of suspect in Brian Battie shooting arrested and accused of helping him cover up the crime

SARASOTA, Florida. – Investigators have arrested the girlfriend of the man accused in a Sarasota County shooting that injured Auburn football player Brian Battie and killed his brother in May.

According to an affidavit, Nicole Roberts, 29, helped Darryl Brookins flee the scene of the May 18 shooting in a rental car and later disposed of the gun that investigators say was used in the crime.

The sheriff’s office said Brookins opened fire early in the morning in the parking lot of the Tallywood Center Plaza, striking five people. Records show Tommie Battie IV and Brian Battie returned fire.

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Tommie Battie IV died, while Brian was critically injured by a gunshot wound to the head. Court records later revealed that Brian Battie, who played football at the University of South Florida before transferring to Auburn, may be permanently paralyzed as a result of his injuries.

According to the latest affidavit, Roberts drove away from the scene with Brookins in a Hyundai Elantra rented in her name. Surveillance video shows Roberts throwing a gun into the Manatee River in the hours after the shooting.

Investigators later found a 9mm Glock pistol in the river.

Courtesy: Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office

The police report on Roberts states that about eight hours after the shooting, she went to Walgreens near University Parkway and purchased several first aid items, including Band-Aids to close wounds and a blood-clotting spray.

Roberts was later arrested and charged with aiding and abetting. She is due back in court on Friday.

Brookins is being held without bail on charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder.

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