Ex-LSU Star Demetrius Byrd Charged in Bus Knife Threat
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- Demetrius Byrd was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after an incident on a Miami Beach bus involving a knife and verbal threat, according to an arrest report.
- Byrd allegedly pulled a silver multi-tool from his pocket, opened the blade, and asked the victim "Who wants to die?" while walking toward him; the victim told authorities he tried unsuccessfully to de-escalate.
- Byrd was granted a $5,000 bond but is required to appear before a judge due to an outstanding warrant in a separate domestic violence case.
- Byrd, 40, was an impact player on LSU's 2007 BCS national championship team, catching a game-winning 22-yard touchdown from Matt Flynn with one second left to beat Auburn.
- Byrd finished his LSU career with 72 catches for 1,134 yards and 11 touchdowns after starring at Miami Central Senior High School, where he led Miami-Dade County in receiving yards.
- Byrd suffered a serious car accident shortly before the 2009 NFL Draft but was still selected by the San Diego Chargers in the seventh round, spending his only pro season on the non-football injury list before his 2010 release.
Why it matters: A former BCS champion and seventh-round NFL draft pick now faces a felony-level aggravated assault charge while already carrying an outstanding domestic violence warrant — a second legal case that ensures his court appearances will not end with this arrest. The charges compound the public trajectory of a once-celebrated athlete whose football career was already derailed by a pre-draft car accident.
