Former NFL linebacker Darron Lee has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his girlfriend in Tennessee. Authorities responded to a residence in Hamilton County on Thursday, where they found the woman deceased despite life-saving efforts. Lee, 31, was taken into custody the same day and faces a court appearance on February 11.
Deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office arrived at a home near Chattanooga on Thursday afternoon following a report of CPR in progress. Upon arrival, first responders attempted life-saving measures on a female victim, but she was determined to be deceased. Detectives investigated the scene and concluded that the death was a homicide, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.
Darron Alexander Lee, 31, was identified as the suspect and taken into custody on Thursday. He was formally charged on Friday with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. The victim's identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, and additional charges may follow the ongoing investigation. Lee is being held at the Hamilton County Jail without bond, with his next court date scheduled for Wednesday, February 11.
Lee was selected as a first-round draft pick by the New York Jets in the 2016 NFL Draft, where he played for three seasons. His contract with the Jets was cut short in 2019 due to disciplinary issues and poor performance. He was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs that year and was part of their Super Bowl-winning roster in 2020, though he did not play in the game. Lee later joined the Buffalo Bills' practice squad in 2020 and signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in June 2021, but was placed on injured reserve and released two months later without playing.
This is not Lee's first brush with the law. In 2023, he was arrested for assault and domestic violence, with the report alleging he pushed a woman against a wall, threw her to the floor, and struck her face and head multiple times with his fists. The NFL has declined to comment on the recent arrest.
"Preliminary findings indicate the victim's death was the result of a homicide," the Hamilton County sheriff's office stated.