Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf will not face charges for his altercation with a fan during the Detroit Lions’ NFL game last December.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office made the announcement Friday. A statement to the Detroit Free Press shows that the affected fan, Ryan Kennedy, “neither appeared injured nor requested medical attention at the game.”
“At approximately 5:30 p.m., Kennedy reportedly left his seat with a Metcalf jersey in his hand to get an autograph. As he approached the front barrier of the stands, he said something to Mr. Metcalf. As Mr. Metcalf approached the stands, a brief incident occurred in which Mr. Metcalf grabbed him by the jersey and pushed him back,” the statement continued.
“After a comprehensive review of all relevant evidence, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has determined that no charges will be filed in this case.”
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Civil proceedings are still ongoing
Mitch Schuster, Metcalf’s attorney, issued a statement in response to prosecutors’ decision not to file charges, saying they “welcome the decision and are grateful for the hard work and thorough investigation that led to this just result.”
He added that he would continue the civil litigation on behalf of his client.
“We are confident that justice will prevail in Mr. Kennedy’s civil case. As Mr. Metcalf’s counterclaim in the civil case makes clear, Mr. Kennedy’s hateful behavior has no place anywhere, especially not in professional sports,” the statement said.
Kennedy is suing Metcalf, among other things, for “defamatory and life-changing statements.” Former NFL players Chad Johnson and Shannon Sharpe are also part of this lawsuit, as they publicly suggested that Metcalf’s actions were motivated by racist comments made by Kennedy. This process is still ongoing.
Metcalf was suspended two games without pay for the incident, causing him to lose more than $500,000 in playing wages and forfeit his $45 million in outstanding guarantees.
