Pittsburgh Steelers receiver DK Metcalf won't face criminal charges for a Dec. 21 altercation with a fan at Ford Field during a game against the Detroit Lions, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday.
"At approximately 5:30 p.m., it is alleged that (Ryan Kennedy) left his seat holding a Metcalf jersey to get an autograph," according to a statement obtained by the the Detroit Free Press' Christian Romo. "As he approached the front railing of the stands, he said something to Mr. Metcalf. As Mr. Metcalf approached the stands, there was a brief interaction where Mr. Metcalf grabbed his shirt and pushed him back. The fan did not appear to be injured, nor did he seek medical attention at the game.
"After an extensive review of all the relevant evidence, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office has determined that charges will not issue in this case."
The day after the incident, the NFL suspended Metcalf for two games without pay, costing him more than $500K in game checks and voiding $45 million in contract guarantees.
Kennedy filed a lawsuit in February seeking damages from Metcalf, Ford Field, and former NFL stars Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson for making "defamatory and life-altering statements" against him. Johnson publicly accused Kennedy of instigating the altercation by using racist language toward Metcalf, which Kennedy has denied.
Detroit police began investigating the incident in January, though no charges were filed at the time.
"We applaud the decision and are thankful for the hard work and thorough investigation that led to this just result," Metcalf's attorney, Mitch Schuster, said in a statement obtained by ESPN's Adam Schefter. "We are confident that justice will also prevail in the civil claim involving Mr. Kennedy. As Mr. Metcalf's counterclaim in the civil case makes clear, Mr. Kennedy's hate-fueled conduct has no place anywhere, and especially not in professional sports."
Kennedy's lawyer said that the prosecutor's decision will have "no effect" on the lawsuit, per Romo.
