Brandon Meriweather Trying To Break Up Fight When Shooting Occurred, According To Relative

A witness of the shooting that Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather has been accused of by the victims told Bob Hohler and Steve Silva that Meriweather was not the shooter, but was instead trying to break up a fight when the shooting occurred.

The witness, a relative of Meriweather's, claims that the fight involved two of Meriweather's cousins. When Meriweather attempted to intervene, the Witness claims that Anton Massey--one of the cousins' friends--drew a gun and started firing. Meriweather, the relative says, was nearly hit in the incident, and fled when the shots were fired. 

This version of the story is in stark contrast to the claims made by the victims through their lawyer John Morgan earlier today that Meriweather was the one pulling the trigger. For what it's worth, Morgan is unwilling to say that Meriweather was responsible until the completion of the investigation.

"I have a lot of doubt about that," Morgan said. "That's what these fellas told me, but I don't assume that to be true at all. I assume nothing to be true until we get an investigation completed. Their allegation to me is ... one of the fellas was in a fight with someone else out there and their allegation is that Meriweather shot him.

While the Orange County Sheriff's Department has acknowledged that Meriweather has been identified as being present at the scene of the incident, he has not been named as a suspect.

Brandon Meriweather Present At Shooting, According To OC Sheriff's Office

Earlier on Thursday, news broke that Brandon Meriweather was being accused of shooting two men last month in Florida. At the time, the Orange County Sheriff's Office had no record of Meriweather being connected to any crime. But now, the Orlando Sentinel has learned that the two injured men from Apopka are saying they were indeed shot by Meriweather, according to their lawyer, John Morgan. 

Moreover, the Sheriff's Office now confirms that "William Brandon Meriweather, among others, has been identified as being present during a shooting." The case is still being investigated, and no charges have been filed. 

The two victims are identified as Nico Stanley, 23, and Quentin Taylor, 24. 

Meriweather has hired his own attorney who issued the following statement: "I am aware of the investigation. We are doing our own investigation."

Brandon Meriweather's Legal Guardian On Shooting Allegations: 'It's Not True'

Following Deadspin's report that an attorney, John Morgan, is alleging Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather shot two men in Florida last month -- an incident about which Morgan admits to having "a lot of doubt" of Meriweather's involvement -- an Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman told WEEI.com Thursday morning that Meriweather is not currently part of any investigation:

"Mr. Meriweather is not officially listed on any police report at this point. There is an ongoing investigation into that incident, but I can tell you he's not listed at this point. We are having meetings on a number of issues this morning, but nothing as of this time."

Additionally, the Boston Herald's Ian Rapoport spoke with Tim Bridges, Meriweather's legal guardian and the man who raised him, who said of the allegations: "It's not true."

"I'm sure the attorneys will handle whatever needs to be handled," Bridges said. "‘Everything will come out if there's anything to come out. But statements have been given by the Orange County Sheriff's Department that Brandon Meriweather is not a victim, nor a person of interest in any shooting."

Bridges added that he is not worried about Morgan's allegations, saying his only concern is that "this type of publicity has the potential to damage [Meriweather's] career." When asked what kind of recourse Meriweather had, Bridges replied, "Defamation of Character."

The team issues their own statement as well Thursday morning: "We are aware of the reported allegation, but do not have any additional information."

Brandon Meriweather Accused Of Shooting Two People Last Month

New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather shot two men during an incident Feb. 27 in Apopka, Florida, alleges their attorney, John Morgan, in a report published on Deadspin. According to Morgan, one of the victims was shot in the head and is "extremely lucky to be alive."

The trouble started at the Blue Jeans Lounge in Apokpa when a friend of Meriweather's allegedly beat up a woman, according to Morgan. The woman's brother arrived later with his own friend, and the conflagration shifted to a nearby party, where the brother soon got the better of Meriweather's friend in a fight. That's when Meriweather allegedly pulled out his gun and fired at the brother, grazing the man's face and hitting the other victim in the head, according to Morgan.

Orange County Sheriff's Office detective are investigating the case but have made no arrests, and so far it remains accusations only made by the lawyer. According to the Herald's Ian Rappoport, an officer in the sheriff's office had no record of Meriweather being connected to any crime. 

Thursday morning, while appearing on WEEI, when asked if he had any doubt Meriweather was the shooter of his two clients, Morgan responded, "I have a lot of doubt."

In a report published on Orlando's WESH.com on Feb. 28, the day after the alleged incident, two men were brought to a hospital in Apopka with gunshot wounds. Both were in stable condition, and neither wanted to press any charges. 

While a player at Miami in July of 2006, Meriweather was involved in what was determined a legal shooting when he fired three times at a person who had just shot his teammate, Willie Cooper.