Former NFL Linebacker Darron Lee Arrested on First-Degree Murder Charge in Tennessee
Darron Lee, a former first-round NFL draft pick and five-year league veteran, is facing serious legal trouble after being arrested Thursday in connection with the death of a woman in Tennessee.
According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Lee has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with or fabricating evidence. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the victim, as they continue efforts to notify her family. Investigators also noted that additional charges could be forthcoming as the case unfolds.
The incident occurred in Ooltewah, Tennessee, a small community just outside Lee’s hometown of Chattanooga. On Thursday afternoon, emergency services were called to a residence where someone had reportedly been performing CPR on a woman. The sheriff’s office has not disclosed who placed the call or who attempted to administer aid.
When first responders arrived, they found a woman unresponsive. Despite efforts to revive her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff’s office said that based on the condition of both the victim and the residence, detectives from the Criminal Investigative Services unit were brought in. Preliminary findings pointed to a homicide.
Lee, 31, was arrested at the scene and remains in custody without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. Authorities have stated that no further details will be released at this time, as the investigation remains active.
Lee’s football journey began at Ohio State, where his standout play helped elevate his draft stock. He was selected 20th overall by the New York Jets in the 2016 NFL Draft. Over three seasons with the Jets, Lee showed flashes of his potential as a fast, sideline-to-sideline linebacker, though his tenure was marked by inconsistency.
In 2019, he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he was part of the roster that won Super Bowl LIV. While Lee didn’t play in the championship game, he was part of a team that brought Kansas City its first title in 50 years. He later made two appearances for the Buffalo Bills in 2020 and had a brief preseason stint with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.
Once viewed as a rising star out of college, Lee’s NFL career never quite reached the heights many projected. Now, his name is back in headlines for reasons far removed from the football field. As the investigation continues, the focus will shift to the legal proceedings ahead and the search for answers in a case that has stunned both the football world and the Tennessee community where it occurred.