Savannah, Georgia – A former NFL linebacker, Antwione Williams, was arrested on Thursday and charged with several serious offenses related to the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Court records indicate that Williams, 31, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2016 and later played for the XFL’s DC Defenders, is alleged to have been one of the early rioters to breach the restricted perimeter of the Capitol.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., “Williams pushed through a group of rioters that formed … and attacked and overcame the U.S. Capitol Police officers.” The complaint claims that he was involved in violent confrontations with law enforcement. Footage from police body cameras reportedly shows him pulling bike racks from officers and striking one officer on the head.
Williams was also accused of lunging at an officer using spray to keep rioters at bay and was seen grabbing and pushing two officers as the crowd attempted to surge past police lines. The FBI began investigating him after receiving a tip in December 2022, which led them to identify him through images shared on social media and riot photos.
During his arrest, investigators found a red key fob for a Chevrolet vehicle hanging from his waist, which matched images captured during the riot. Reports also indicate a picture on his Instagram account showed him wearing the same Golf hat during the Capitol events.
The charges against Williams include assaulting and impeding officers, civil disorder, entering restricted grounds, and disorderly conduct within the Capitol building. He did not enter a plea during his initial court appearance in Savannah but was released on bond. His next court date is scheduled for November 21 in Washington, D.C.
The incidents at the Capitol that day led to over 140 police officers being assaulted and damages were estimated to exceed $2.8 million. Since the attack, more than 1,561 individuals across nearly all states have faced federal charges, with over 590 charged with assaulting law enforcement or obstructing officers during civil disorder, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
