Atlanta Falcons Linebacker James Pearce Jr. Arrested Following Domestic Dispute

Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. was arrested in Miami on Saturday after an alleged domestic altercation with Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson. According to authorities, Pearce was taken into custody after a series of events that included a police chase and a vehicular crash.

The chase ensued when Pearce attempted to flee from officers, leading to him crashing his vehicle, as explained by Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez. The events culminated in Pearce’s arrest on Saturday evening. He now faces multiple charges related to the incident, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, which was specified in court to be a vehicle, and aggravated stalking, all associated with domestic violence. Additional charges include aggravated battery of an officer, fleeing or eluding police with the siren and lights on, and resisting arrest without causing harm to an officer.

Pearce is currently held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He appeared in a virtual court session on Sunday where Judge Jacqueline Woodward enforced a domestic violence stay-away order. This order prohibits Pearce from contacting “Ms. Jackson,” as she was referred to in court, and mandates that he must remain at least 500 feet away from her residence.

The current status of Pearce and Jackson’s relationship is not entirely clear. However, records show they both attended the University of Tennessee during the same period from 2022 to 2024, participating in their respective sports arenas.

Pearce, aged 22, is in his rookie season in the NFL, having been selected in the first round of the 2025 draft by the Falcons. The team has issued a statement acknowledging their awareness of the ongoing incident and expressing their intent to gather more information while refraining from further comment on the legal proceedings.

Pearce’s legal representation, attorney Jacob Nunez, emphasized his client’s plea of innocence in a public statement. Nunez urged the public to withhold judgment, citing that allegations may not necessarily reflect the complete truth. He expressed confidence in Pearce’s future contributions both to his team and the community.

In contrast, Jackson, who is 24 years old, was a formidable player for the Los Angeles Sparks, having been picked fourth overall in the 2024 WNBA draft. She built her reputation further by scoring an average of 14.7 points over 38 games in the 2025 season.

A video that surfaced on social media, corroborated by the Doral Police Department, depicts Pearce being apprehended by multiple officers, adding visual context to the charges he faces. Efforts to obtain comments from Jackson’s representatives were unsuccessful, while her attorney opted not to comment on the incident.

Contributions to this article were made by Mirna Alsharif, a breaking news reporter for NBC News, along with Anthony Cusumano, the South Region Deputy Director, and contributors Alex Lo and Doha Madani.