NFL defensive lineman Justin Bannan pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity on Thursday in the case of a shooting that wounded a woman in 2019, according to a report from KDVR in Denver." data-reactid="23">Former NFL defensive lineman Justin Bannan pleaded not guilty to insanity on Thursday in a shootout that injured a woman in 2019, according to a KDVR report in Denver.
Bannan, 41, was arrested and charged with attempted first degree murder, assault and burglary in October 2019 after shooting the woman, Ashley Marie, in the right shoulder in Boulder, Colorado.
Marie survived the shooting and is suing Bannan on civil charges. Police called the shot at random, and Bannan claims he accidentally unloaded the gun and did not target Marie.
Bannan and Marie were said to have been colleagues at Black Lab Sports, but the two did not know each other well.
An arrest affidavit from last year said police recovered a rolled-up $ 20 bill Bannan was carrying when he was arrested, which contained a powdery residue that later tested positive for cocaine.
He also reportedly told police at the time of his arrest that he believed the Russian Mafia was following him and that he got rid of his cell phone because he thought someone was following him.
Bannan must now undergo a mental health assessment at a Colorado state hospital.
According to the report, Bannan said he suffered from hydrocephalus, a condition that the Mayo Clinic describes as a buildup of fluid in the ventricles deep in the brain, which can lead to an increase in the size of the ventricles and a pressure on the brain. Symptoms are irritability, change in personality and “decline in memory, concentration and other thinking skills.”
NFL career, Bannan played for the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions. The Bills drafted him in Round 5 in 2002 out of Colorado, where he was named first-team All-Big 12 in 2001." data-reactid="35">During an 11-year NFL career, Bannan played for the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions. The Bills drafted him in the fifth inning in 2002 from Colorado, where he was named the first team All-Big 12 in 2001.
