Former NFL Linebacker Charged in January 6 Capitol Attack
A former NFL linebacker, Antwione Williams, was arrested and charged with assaulting law enforcement during the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Williams, 31, who played for the Detroit Lions and later for the XFL’s DC Defenders, is accused of being among the first rioters to breach the restricted perimeter of the Capitol.
According to the criminal complaint filed by the US Attorney’s Office in Washington, DC, Williams pushed through a group of rioters and attacked Capitol Police officers. He was recorded on police body camera footage pulling bike racks from police and striking an officer on the head. Additionally, he was seen lunging at an officer who was trying to prevent rioters from taking a bike rack.
The FBI received a tip in December 2022 that led to Williams’ identification. Agents compared riot photos with images from his social media account to confirm his identity. When he was arrested in Savannah, Georgia, investigators found a red key fob for a Chevrolet vehicle hanging from his waist, matching the fob seen on his belt loop during the riot. A picture on his Instagram account also showed him wearing the same Golf hat he wore on January 6th.
Williams is facing several charges, including assaulting and impeding officers, civil disorder, entering restricted grounds, and disorderly conduct within a Capitol building. During his initial court appearance in Savannah, he did not enter a plea and was released on bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 21 in Washington.
The January 6 attack resulted in over 140 police officers being assaulted and damages exceeding $2.8 million, according to the US Attorney’s office in DC. More than 1,561 people from nearly all 50 states have been federally charged in connection with the attack, with over 590 of them facing charges for assaulting law enforcement or obstructing officers during a civil disorder. About 979 defendants have pleaded guilty, and 210 have been convicted at trial.
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