Former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Darron Lee was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend in Tennessee, with the news reported yesterday in a story written by Rich Cimini of ESPN as well as multiple news outlets. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement on Friday.
Lee, 31, was identified as the suspect and taken into custody Thursday at the scene, according the sheriff’s office. Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Thursday afternoon to report a CPR in progress, but when first responders arrived they pronounced they woman deceased after locating her and attempting life-saving measures.
Preliminary findings indicated the victim’s death was the result of a homicide, but the woman’s identity is being withheld pending family notification.
Lee was also charged with tampering with evidence, and additional charges could be forthcoming pending the outcome of the investigation. He’s being held at the Hamilton Country prison, according to inmate records, and Lee has a Feb. 11 court date pending. No other details were released, and Cimini also reported that Lee was arrested for assault and domestic violence in 2023.
Lee’s football career began at Ohio State, where he was a standout, and the Jets chose him with the 20th pick of the 2016 draft. He played three seasons for the Jets, starting 36 games and making three interceptions, according to the ESPN report.
He was released in 2019 and signed with the Chiefs. He played just a single season in Kansas City as a member of the team that won the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, 31-20, although Lee was inactive for that game.
The Chiefs moved on from Lee the following season, and he signed with the Buffalo Bills. Lee played in two games for the Bills in 2020, but he saw no action after that.
Lee was originally from Chattanooga Tennessee, but according to the ESPN report he moved to Albany, Ohio at an early age. He stayed close to home as a collegian and played for the Buckeyes under coach Urban Meyer, and Lee was named the defensive MVP of the 2015 Sugar Bowl, as Ohio State defeated Alabama, 42-35 with running back Ezekiel Elliott rushing for 230 yards.
There were no reports about Lee’s history after his career, other than his 2023 arrest. More reports will undoubtedly follow in the upcoming days, along with a victim identification.