Bryshere Y. Gray, renowned for his portrayal of Hakeem Lyon in the popular TV series Empire, is currently facing assault and battery charges in Chesapeake, Virginia.
According to WAVY, the 31-year-old actor was not apprehended by law enforcement officers but rather charged by a private citizen.
The charges against him include one misdemeanor count of assault and battery.
Dustin Wilkins, one of Gray’s associates who goes by the name Chosen Wilkins, provided an account of the incident to WAVY. He stated that the two had an altercation on Friday afternoon, which escalated into a physical altercation. Wilkins claimed that Gray charged him from behind, leading to the complaint.
Gray was reportedly arrested on Sunday, June 15, and has since been released on bail.
The arrest warrant reportedly states that Gray was informed that he could not leave without paying the bail, and Wilkins expressed concern for his safety.
Wilkins described the incident in detail, stating that Gray charged towards him from around the car, struck him with his shoulder, and fought him while he was recording the incident over the phone. He also mentioned that Gray delivered a blunt blow and punched him.
Despite the incident, Wilkins expressed his belief that Gray is not a bad person and that he struggles with mental health issues.
Wilkins refused to disclose specific details about the incident, stating that it involved a mental health aspect. He emphasized that Gray is a friend and a brother to him and that he is simply dealing with challenging mental health problems.
Wilkins further expressed his concern for Gray’s well-being and stated that he needs mental help rather than being incarcerated.
Gray is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on Wednesday, June 18.
This incident is not Gray’s first legal trouble. In 2020, he was accused of assaulting his wife in Arizona. After a 911 call and an hours-long standoff with a SWAT team, Gray pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault and was sentenced to 10 days in jail and three years of probation in 2021. Additionally, that same year, he was involved in a “food fight” at a 7-Eleven.
In 2022, Gray was reportedly arrested again for violating his probation.
