Authorities will not file criminal charges against former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson after he was recorded on video punching a fellow first-class passenger aboard a plane at San Francisco International Airport last month, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
The San Mateo County District Attorney鈥檚 Office said it has closed the case and decided against pursuing charges based on 鈥渢he circumstances surrounding the confrontation.鈥�
鈥淭hese include the conduct of the victim leading up to the incident, the interaction between Mr. Tyson and the victim, as well as the requests of both the victim and Mr. Tyson that no charges be filed in this case,鈥� District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said in a statement.
Police previously said that the victim had provided few details about the altercation and refused to co-operate with the investigation.
Representatives for Tyson previously said the boxer was on a flight with 鈥渁n aggressive passenger who began harassing him and threw a water bottle at him while he was in his seat.鈥�
The April 20 video shows Tyson leaning over the back of his seat repeatedly striking the unidentified man in the head, drawing blood. The footage was first shared by TMZ, which said it was recorded on a JetBlue Airways plane bound for Florida.
Prior to the physical altercation, the other passenger was seen on the video standing over Tyson鈥檚 seat 鈥� waving his arms and talking animatedly while the former boxer sits quietly.
Attorneys for Tyson praised the district attorney鈥檚 decision in a statement on Tuesday, thanking law enforcement for 鈥渃areful, diligent and professional work.鈥�
READ MORE: Video shows boxing legend Mike Tyson punching airline passenger
Another passenger on the flight, Sarah Burchfield, told SFGate that she had seen the man who Tyson punched at an airport bar earlier appearing loud and quarrelsome.
鈥淲hen I boarded the flight, I thought, 鈥極h, no, that drunk guy is on our flight,鈥濃�� Burchfield told the media outlet.
Since Tyson, 55, retired from boxing, he has worked as an actor, podcaster and cannabis entrepreneur. He was in San Francisco in April for the annual 420 cannabis festival in Golden Gate Park, where he was promoting his cannabis brand Tyson 2.0, SFGate reported.
Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1987 at age 20. During his career he had 50 wins, 44 of them by knockout.
In the 1990s, Tyson served three years in prison after being convicted of rape. He has maintained his innocence in that case.
Tyson was briefly barred from boxing after infamously biting off part of Evander Holyfield鈥檚 ear during a fight in 1997.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
