Joe Mixon, the former Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans running back, was connected to a 2023 shooting investigation after a teenage boy was shot outside Mixon’s Cincinnati-area home. However, Joe Mixon was not accused of being the shooter, and no criminal charges were filed against him in connection with the shooting itself.
The incident occurred on March 6, 2023, when deputies responded to reports of gunfire at Mixon’s residence. Investigators determined that a teenage boy had been struck in the foot while standing in a neighbor’s yard. The injury was reported as non-life-threatening, and the victim was transported to a hospital for treatment.Authorities later charged Lamonte Brewer, the boyfriend of Mixon’s sister, alleging that he fired multiple shots during what investigators said stemmed from a dispute involving teenagers participating in a “Nerf Wars” game. Prosecutors stated that Brewer—not Mixon—was the individual accused of firing the weapon.
Although Mixon was not criminally charged, he became the subject of a civil lawsuit filed by the injured teenager’s family. The lawsuit alleged that Mixon was negligent because the shooting occurred on his property and involved a firearm reportedly owned by him. The family sought damages for the injuries sustained by the victim.
The criminal case against Brewer has continued through the courts, with plea negotiations reported in 2026. Court proceedings remain focused on the allegations against Brewer, while the civil litigation involving Mixon has proceeded separately.
The shooting also renewed attention on Mixon’s previous legal issues. Earlier in 2023, he was charged with aggravated menacing following an unrelated road-rage allegation, but he was later found not guilty after a bench trial.
As of the latest available information, there is no evidence that Joe Mixon fired the shots in the March 2023 incident. The criminal allegations have centered on Lamonte Brewer, while Mixon’s involvement has been limited to related civil proceedings and questions about property ownership and supervision.
The case remains one of the most widely discussed off-field incidents involving the former NFL running back, with both the criminal and civil matters receiving significant public attention. Authorities have encouraged anyone with additional information about the shooting to cooperate with investigators as the legal process continues.