Auburn running back Brian Batty is in critical condition after fatally shooting his brother Tommy Batty IV.
The Batties were shot early Saturday morning in Sarasota, Florida. Tommy, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene and Brian was taken to a local hospital. According to Rivals Auburn SportsBhatti is in the ICU, where doctors continue to examine her and work on her.
On Monday morning, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said Batty had suffered a “setback” and was on a ventilator.
Auburn family. Please keep Brian Batty in your prayers. His symptoms worsened last night and he is still on a ventilator. #austrong
— Hugh Freeze (@CoachHughFreeze) May 20, 2024
Three other people were shot, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. From the Sarasota Herald Tribune:
Deputies who first responded to the Talleywood Center Plaza observed a large crowd with multiple gunshot victims in the parking lot. Three additional victims were transported to local hospitals in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Batty spent the 2023 season at Auburn, becoming the team’s primary kick returner after starting the season in South Florida. He had 51 carries for 227 yards, 1 TD, and 7 catches in 13 games. He also returned 28 kicks for 645 yards.
Over three seasons at South Florida, Batty rushed for more than 1,800 yards. He was the team’s leading rusher in 2022 with 175 carries for 1,185 yards and eight scores. Prior to playing at South Florida, Batty spent his final high school season at Sarasota High School after rushing for over 2,000 yards as a senior at Braden River High School. His younger brother Tommy also played at both Sarasota and Braden River.
According to Rivals, Brian Batty is a two-star recruit in the 2020 class who signed with Auburn in January 2023, just three days after entering the transfer portal following a coaching change at USF. Bulls manager Jeff Scott was fired near the end of the 2022 season.
