In an act of valor at a Farmington Hills, Michigan, YMCA, former University of Michigan standout and NFL receiver Braylon Edwards intervened in a distressing assault on an 80-year-old man. The incident, which unfolded last Friday, saw Edwards stepping in to halt the aggression initiated by 20-year-old Malik Ali Smith following a verbal altercation that quickly spiraled into violence.
The confrontation led to the elderly man being hospitalized in a serious yet stable condition. Smith, who attempted to flee the scene but was later apprehended, is now facing a charge of assault with intent to murder, carrying a potential life sentence. He is currently detained at Oakland County Jail under a $250,000 cash bond.
Authorities were able to pinpoint Smith as the assailant through the gym’s membership database. Edwards recounted the ordeal to local media, explaining how he was drawn into the fray upon hearing the escalating dispute and subsequent physical struggle, prompting him to physically separate Smith from the victim.
The elderly victim was discovered unconscious with significant facial injuries by the police upon their arrival. While Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King lauded the intervention of a “good Samaritan” without naming Edwards directly, the act did not go unnoticed. Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald expressed her gratitude towards the witness for stepping in and assured that justice would be pursued for the victim.
Edwards, who carved out a notable career in football with a four-year stint at Michigan followed by eight seasons in the NFL across four teams, exemplified commendable bravery in preventing further harm to the victim in this unwarranted attack.