A family tragedy has hit Calais Campbell’s world hard, after his mother, Nateal Campbell, was found dead during a welfare check at a townhouse in Buckhead on Tuesday afternoon.
Atlanta police said officers responded to the residence and discovered Nateal Campbell unresponsive. Police reports indicate she had a cut throat. Officers also located a knife with Ciarre Campbell, who was later identified in public records as the 41-year-old son of the deceased woman.
According to preliminary jail documentation, Ciarre Campbell is facing multiple serious felony charges, including two counts of murder. He remains in custody while awaiting a formal bond hearing, and no legal representative has publicly commented on the allegations. His mugshot has since been released.
The situation escalated quickly once emergency personnel entered the home. Police reports say a male individual initially barricaded himself inside the townhouse before tactical officers safely detained him.
The news has landed especially hard in the football community because of who Calais Campbell is and what he means to the league. The veteran defensive lineman has earned six Pro Bowl selections and was voted a first-team AP All-Pro in 2017. He also recently signed a contract extension for his nineteenth professional season.
Calais Campbell has long been known as one of the league’s most respected players, in part because of his charitable work off the field. In the wake of the loss, the family released a statement asking for privacy as they deal with their sorrow, and said they were grateful for the outpouring of spiritual support from fans around the world.
His brother, Ciarre Campbell, also played football before this case took a devastating turn that now has him facing a lifetime in prison over his alleged actions.
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