Bengals RB Joe Mixon won't be indicted, officials say

CINCINNATI — Bengals running back Joe Mixon will not be indicted for a shooting that occurred near his home, local officials said Thursday.

Mixon's home was part of a crime scene investigation where a teenager was shot while playing «nerf wars,» a game involving toy guns. County prosecutors allege that Lamonte Brewer, who is listed as the boyfriend of Mixon's sister, Shalonda, fired 11 bullets at the teenager, who is Mixon's neighbor.

Brewer was indicted on multiple felonies — one count of assault, one count of tampering with evidence and two counts of having weapons under disability. Shalonda Mixon was indicted on two felonies — tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice. The Bengals running back will not be subject to any criminal punishment.

«No charges are being filed against him,» Hamilton County prosecutor Melissa Powers said at a news conference in Cincinnati. «He did not commit a crime.»

Mixon, who has played for the Bengals for six years, cooperated with authorities and gave a statement, Powers said.

The shots were fired from Mixon's backyard, according to the incident report and the prosecutor's office, with one of them striking the teenager in the foot.

Powers brought in the toy gun that was believed to be held by the teen during the incident. The county believes damage on the front of the toy is from where a bullet entered and exited the piece of equipment.

The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on March 6, according to the incident report. While the lighting was minimal, Powers believed that Brewer, Joe Mixon and Mixon's physical therapist, Sean Pena, should have been able to discern the difference between a real gun and a toy gun.

«All were out there long enough for their eyes to adjust and