FILE PHOTO — BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 6: Indiana Hoosiers defensive lineman Tyrone Burrus Jr. (99) reacts as Indiana University faces Kennesaw State in an NCAA football game on September 6, 2025, in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Updated story 1:09 p.m.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University football player Tyrone Burrus Jr. and another person identified as Motley will not be charged following their arrests Thursday in Bloomington, according to the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office.
Jeff Kehr, chief deputy prosecutor, told The Bloomingtonian on Friday that neither Burrus nor Motley is being charged.
A Bloomington Police Department arrest summary said Burrus was arrested at 4:20 p.m. July 23, 2026, at the Empire Apartments on preliminary allegations of domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor, and strangulation, a felony.
Here is exactly the info sent to the Bloomingtonian by the BPD:
“On July 23, 2026, at approximately 3:00 p.m., officers responded to an apartment in the 200 block of E 20th Street in reference to a report of a physical disturbance. It was reported that one of the involved individuals had been sprayed in the face with pepper spray. Upon the arrival of officers, it was determined that the disturbance involved Tyrone Keith Burrus, Jr. (DOB 5/11/2007) and Kira Marie Motley (DOB 11/22/2007). Interviews were conducted with both involved individuals as well as others that were present at the time of the altercation. It was learned that Mr. Burrus and Ms. Motley were in a relationship and that Ms. Motley had been living with Mr. Burrus in the apartment since early July. On July 23, the pair reportedly began arguing about Mr. Burrus going to the apartment complex pool with friends without Ms. Motley. Both reported to officers that they were battered by the other during the argument, with Ms. Motley reportedly spraying Mr. Burrus in the face with pepper spray during the incident and Mr. Burrus reportedly grabbing Ms. Motley by her neck with his hand, thereby restricting her ability to breathe.
Both Mr. Burrus and Ms. Motley were then taken into custody without incident and transported to the Monroe County Jail, where they were remanded for the following charges:
Tyrone K Burrus, Jr.: Strangulation, level 6 felony; Domestic Battery, class A misdemeanor
Kira M Motley: Domestic Battery, class A misdemeanor
There is no further information that can be shared at this time.
Under Indiana law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.“
An arrest on preliminary allegations does not mean prosecutors will file formal criminal charges. Prosecutors review the reports and evidence submitted by police before determining whether there is sufficient legal and factual basis to pursue a case.
It was not immediately clear why prosecutors declined to charge Burrus and Motley. There are circumstances in which an investigation determines that the person arrested did not commit a crime or that the available evidence does not support filing charges.
The Bloomingtonian contacted the Bloomington Police Department seeking additional information but had not received a response as of publication. The department did not hold a media briefing Friday.
Burrus is a member of the Indiana football team, a fact several news outlets immediately placed in their headlines when reporting his arrest.
At least one online page that publishes arrest photographs and information continued to display the arrest Friday without updating the post to report that prosecutors had declined to file charges.
The situation illustrates the potential harm caused by publishing arrest information and booking photographs before formal charges are filed—and failing to update those reports when no charges follow. Arrest records and photographs can remain publicly accessible through search engines long after prosecutors decline a case, leaving an incomplete and potentially misleading account attached to a person’s name.
An arrest is not a finding of guilt, and a person accused of a crime is presumed innocent unless convicted in court.
Previous version
Staff report
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — July 24, 2026
Indiana University football player Tyrone Burrus Jr. will not be charged following his arrest Thursday at an apartment complex in Bloomington, according to the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office.
Jeff Kehr, chief deputy prosecutor, told The Bloomingtonian on Friday that Burrus is not being charged.
A Bloomington Police Department arrest summary said Burrus was arrested at 4:20 p.m. July 23, 2026, at the Empire Apartments on preliminary allegations of domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor, and strangulation, a felony.
An arrest on preliminary allegations does not mean prosecutors will file formal criminal charges. Prosecutors review evidence submitted by police before deciding whether there is sufficient legal and factual basis to pursue a case.
It was not immediately clear why prosecutors declined to charge Burrus.
The Bloomingtonian contacted the Bloomington Police Department seeking additional information but had not received a response as of publication. The department did not hold a media briefing Friday.
Burrus is a member of the Indiana football team. Several news outlets prominently identified him as an IU football player when reporting his arrest.
At least one online page that publishes arrest photographs and information continued to display Burrus’ arrest Friday without an update noting that prosecutors had declined to file charges.
The case illustrates the potential consequences of publishing arrest information or booking photographs before formal charges are filed and without later updating the report. Arrest records and photographs can remain accessible through search engines long after prosecutors decline a case, potentially leaving readers with an incomplete or misleading account of what occurred.
An arrest is not a finding of guilt, and a person accused of a crime is presumed innocent unless convicted in court.
This story will be updated.
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