Auburn's Brian Battie released from hospital to continue his recovery

SARASOTA, Fla. – Brian Battie, the Auburn running back who was injured while his brother, Tommie Battie IV, was killed in a May shooting at a mall, has been released from the hospital, his family announced on GoFundMe.

In the GoFundMe post, Tommie and Adriene Battie said they were “truly thankful to God for his healing and grace.”

“We are so happy to share that Brian has made such great progress thanks to the excellent care he received at Sarasota Memorial Hospital's inpatient rehabilitation facility,” said Tommie and Adriene. “We are forever grateful for the excellent care and love our family received from the amazing team of medical professionals at Sarasota Memorial.”

Now that Brian is back home, he will continue his recovery in outpatient rehab at Sarasota Memorial Hospital for the next six to nine months, Tommie and Adriene explained. Brian will also reportedly undergo major surgery to prevent further complications.

Brian Battie was placed on a ventilator following the May 18 shooting. The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said officers were called to a shopping center around 3:30 a.m. Saturday and found a large crowd in the parking lot and several shooting victims, the Associated Press reported.

The office said Tommie L. Battie IV was pronounced dead at the scene. Four other people, whose names were not released, were taken to hospitals in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The suspect in the shooting, 28-year-old Darryl Brookins, was arrested on Wednesday, May 22, with the help of the U.S. Marshals Task Force, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said in a press release at the time.