Will Mike Tyson be charged for punching a fellow plane passenger?
Former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will not be facing charges for punching a fellow passenger on an airplane set to depart San Francisco.
Mike Tyson was seen by many punching a fellow passenger on a plane, but he will not be facing criminal charges for the incident, according to the District Attorney of the San Mateo County.
District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said that they had been considering possible misdemeanor battery charges, but after studying the evidence, they decided not to pursue the case.
Both parties request no charges
“We have reviewed the police reports of the San Francisco Police Department and the San Mateo Sheriff’s Office and have viewed the various videos collected by law enforcement from others on the airplane,” according to Wagstaffe’s statement.
“Our decision is that we will not file any charges against Mr. Tyson based on the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.”
The district attorney said that they took into account the victim’s actions prior to the incident, how he and the boxing legend interacted, and the requests of both parties that no charges be filed for what happened.
The incident took place on a plane that was awaiting departure at San Francisco international Airport in April.
Tyson’s history of violence
In footage posted on social media, the passenger seated behind Tyson was seen trying to get the boxer’s attention, after which the 55-year-old turned around and hit him. The video later showed the passenger with a bloody forehead.
Iron Mike has been involved in multiple violent incidents within and outside the boxing ring. He is famously known for biting off Evander Holyfield’s ear during a rematch fight.
He was also convicted for rape and sentenced to six years in prison in 1992, despite his protestations that the sexual encounter was consensual.