Police say ex-NFL player Braylon Edwards is a hero for saving man during Farmington Hills YMCA assault
Former NFL player Braylon Edwards stepped in and saved the life of an 80-year-old man who was being attacked in the locker room at a suburban Detroit YMCA, police said Monday.
"If it wasn't for that intervention, we could very easily be talking about someone's death," said Jeff King, the police chief in Farmington Hills.
Authorities, meanwhile, filed an attempted murder charge against a 20-year-old man for the incident Friday at the recreation center.
Edwards, 41, said he was "just minding my business" when he heard a dispute about loud music.
Edwards stopped the assault of an elderly man who had a severe head injury. The 20-year-old suspect fled on foot before he was captured by police.
"As evidenced by the significant injuries inflicted on the victim, it is clear that Mr. Braylon Edwards' intervention played a pivotal role in saving the victim's life," said Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King. "This is a horrific incident, but the selfless efforts made by Mr. Edwards embody the best in our society."
The chief said the victim was in critical but stable condition at a hospital Monday.
Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald didn't mention Edwards by name but said: "I commend the witness who intervened, and we will seek justice for this victim."
McDonald called it a "vicious, senseless attack."
The alleged attacker appeared in court Saturday and remains in custody on a $250,000 bond.
"At the end of the day, that's what you do," Edwards said of his decision to get involved.
Edwards, a star receiver at Michigan, was a first-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2005. He played eight seasons in the NFL, mostly with Cleveland and the New York Jets.