Former NFL First-Round Pick Darron Lee Charged in Ooltewah Murder

Darron Alexander Lee, 31, a former first-round NFL draft pick, was taken into custody at a home in Ooltewah, Tennessee, and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies were dispatched after a report of a CPR-in-progress call to a residence in the 7500 block of Snow Cone Way, and first responders found a female victim who later died.

“Upon arrival, first responders located a female victim and attempted life-saving measures; it was determined she was deceased,” the sheriff’s office said. “Due to the condition of the victim and the residence, HCSO Criminal Investigative Services Detectives responded. Preliminary findings indicate the victim’s death was the result of a homicide.” The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Lee was identified at the scene as the suspect and taken into custody. He is being held at the Hamilton County Jail without bond and has a court appearance scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 11. The sheriff’s office warned that “additional charges could be pending following the outcome of the investigation.”

The arrest stunned local residents and sports followers. Lee, a Chattanooga native who starred at Ohio State and was part of the Buckeyes’ 2014 national championship team, was the 20th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. His pro career included three seasons with the Jets, a 2019 stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, and brief time with the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders. One compiled career stat line lists 273 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four sacks and three interceptions across five NFL seasons, with starts in 38 of 58 games.

Lee also has a documented legal history. Court records show an April 3, 2023, arrest in Dublin, Ohio, after a female relative reported he had punched her. Officers reportedly found two bags of a white powder later confirmed as cocaine; Lee entered a drug court program and received a one-day jail term, probation and fines under a plea agreement. Other outlets report he pleaded guilty to two lesser counts in 2025 related to earlier charges.

Practical implications for the Ooltewah and greater Hamilton County community include increased law enforcement activity around the case, the need for timely public updates from the sheriff’s office, and scrutiny of prior domestic violence allegations as this investigation unfolds. The NFL has declined to comment on the arrest.

Key facts remain unresolved: the medical examiner has not released a cause of death beyond the preliminary homicide determination, specific evidence allegedly tampered with has not been described, and charging documents and the probable cause affidavit have not yet been made public. Verify future updates through Hamilton County officials and court dockets as Lee’s case progresses and investigators work to fill those gaps.