Former NFL Player Darron Lee Charged with First-Degree Murder in Girlfriend’s Death in Tennessee
en01.web.id – United States. Former National Football League (NFL) linebacker Darron Lee has been formally charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his girlfriend at a private residence in Ooltewah, Hamilton County, Tennessee, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred on Thursday, February 5, 2026, and has drawn widespread attention due to Lee’s past as a first-round NFL draft pick.
The case began early on February 5, 2026, when Hamilton County emergency services received a 911 call at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time, reporting an unresponsive woman inside a home in Ooltewah. The caller informed dispatchers that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was being administered before first responders arrived at the scene.
Deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, accompanied by emergency medical personnel, responded immediately to the residence. Upon arrival, first responders found an adult female suffering from severe and visible injuries. Despite intensive medical efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene on February 5, 2026, officials said. The residence was subsequently secured and designated as a crime scene to allow investigators to conduct a detailed examination.
“Based on the initial findings at the residence on Thursday morning, February 5, investigators determined that the victim’s death was not the result of natural causes,” said Sheriff Austin Garrett, Sheriff of Hamilton County, during a media briefing later that day. He confirmed that the case was quickly classified as a homicide following a preliminary assessment of the scene.
Investigators identified Darron Lee, 31, the victim’s boyfriend, as being present inside the home at the time of the incident on February 5. After reviewing physical evidence, witness information, and the overall condition of the residence, law enforcement officials took Lee into custody at the scene without resistance, according to authorities.
Later on February 5, 2026, the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office formally charged Lee with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. “These charges are based on evidence indicating an intentional act and actions taken to interfere with the investigation following the victim’s death,” said Neal Pinkston, District Attorney for Hamilton County, in a written statement released the same day.
Prosecutors stated that the first-degree murder charge reflects their belief that the killing involved deliberate and fatal conduct. The victim’s identity has not been publicly released, pending official notification of next of kin, in accordance with standard legal and investigative procedures.
Lee is currently being held without bond at the Hamilton County Jail following his arrest on February 5, 2026, and is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on February 11, 2026. Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains active. “This is an ongoing case, and our investigators continue to collect evidence to ensure a thorough and fair judicial process,” Sheriff Garrett said.
Darron Lee was selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Jets and later played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills before his professional football career ended. Law enforcement officials stressed that Lee’s former status as a professional athlete does not influence the legal process, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Tim Redaksi
(rd/ks/jk)