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Former NFL player arrested in fatal incident near Chattanooga
Darron Lee, a 31-year-old ex-linebacker, faces first-degree murder charges after authorities discovered his girlfriend dead at a Tennessee residence on Thursday.
Police response and charges
Officers arrived at the scene following an emergency call and attempted resuscitation, but the woman was pronounced deceased. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office confirmed homicide as the preliminary cause of death.
Lee was taken into custody the same day and formally charged on Friday with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. He is scheduled to appear in court on February 11.
"Preliminary findings indicate the victim's death was the result of a homicide," the sheriff's office stated.
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
Victim's identity withheld
Authorities have not released the victim's name, pending notification of next of kin.
Lee's NFL career
Selected 20th overall by the New York Jets in the 2016 NFL Draft, Lee played four seasons before his contract was terminated a year early in 2019 due to disciplinary issues and inconsistent performance.
He later joined the Buffalo Bills in 2020, then won a Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs-though he did not participate in the championship game. Lee briefly signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 but was released before appearing in a regular-season match.
Prior legal troubles
In 2023, Lee was arrested on assault and domestic violence charges after allegedly pushing a woman against a wall, throwing her to the floor, and striking her face and head multiple times.
