By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 27, 2011
Aqib Talib's future in the NFL just became the least of his problems.
The Bucs cornerback on Friday was indicted by a Dallas County grand jury for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to attorney Frank Perez.
"He's been indicted,'' Perez said in a text message to the St. Petersburg Times on Friday. "Yes, I'm disappointed, but I believe once all the facts are out, it will be resolved in Aqib's favor.''
It took the grand jury only two days to indict Talib after being presented with evidence by prosecutors Wednesday. The second degree felony carries a punishment of up to 20 years in prison.
Talib's latest troubles stem from his role in a March 21 shooting in Garland, Texas. Police say Talib attempted to pistol-whip and later fired gunshots at Shannon Billings, the live-in boyfriend of his sister, Saran Talib, 43. Nobody was injured. Talib's mother, Okolo, also was indicted by the grand jury on similar charges, according to Perez.
According to an arrest warrant, Billings, 40, had scratched Saran Talib's head with his hand and fingernails during a domestic disturbance earlier that day. Talib's gun slipped out of his hand during a struggle and jammed when it struck a fence, police said. That's when Billings picked it up and began running down the 900 block of Green Pond Drive, they say.
Talib's mother, Okolo Talib, 58, arrived on the scene, stepped out of her vehicle, aimed her handgun at Billings and fired several shots, witnesses told police. Talib then grabbed the handgun from his mother and fired more rounds at Billings, according to an arrest warrant. None of the shots struck Billings.
Talib, who has been free since posting $25,000 bail, has "vigorously denied" all charges through a statement from his attorneys. And in a conversation with a former college coach, Talib also implicated his mother as the only person who fired the gun.
Meanwhile, Okolo received an additional charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was released after posting a total of $30,000 bail.