Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson handcuffed while shouting about her death after alleged bar altercation

Brian Hickerson, the on-and-off boyfriend of Hayden Panettiere at the time of her unfortunate passing on August 16, 2026, was seen in handcuffs on September 12, 2026, after an alleged bar altercation. The altercation took place at Wild Wing Cafe in Greenville, South Carolina.

In a video released on social media, Hickerson could be heard shouting about the Greenville Police Department in relation to Panettiere’s death.  Despite being handcuffed, he was reportedly not arrested and was released after things calmed down. His brother, Zach Hickerson, was also there.

Hickerson and his brother had allegedly been drinking for several hours

According to TMZ, Hickerson and his brother had been drinking for several hours before the alleged incident occurred. During that time, they were reportedly being heckled over Panettiere’s death. At some point, Hickerson and another bar patron got into an argument, during which Hickerson tossed a bar stool.

A video of the altercation shows someone hauling Hickerson out of the bar while a bartender is heard yelling in the background to “let him go.” Police were called for an “assault,” and eventually Hickerson ended up in handcuffs. In a different video, leaked to social media, Hickerson can be heard yelling at the officers, “GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died,” presumably a reference to Panettiere’s passing.

However, video shared by TMZ shows Hickerson eventually sitting calmly while cuffed and speaking with officers, leading to him ultimately being released rather than arrested. His brother didn’t fare so well. Zach was allegedly shouting profanities and yelling at the officers, asking why his brother was cuffed when the people they had the argument with had not been. Zach was eventually arrested for disorderly conduct for shouting obscenities in public, but was later released.

The two brothers were the ones to find Panettiere the day she died

Besides Hickerson being Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend (who Panettiere alleged abused her), he and his brother were the ones to discover her the day that she died. Zach discovered her unconscious in the apartment where she and Hickerson were staying when he came to their home after being unable to get hold of the two. Hickerson reportedly administered Narcan while 9-1-1 was called, and both brothers performed CPR until first responders arrived, but Panettiere was unresponsive.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been leading a probe into Panettiere’s death, with a potential cause being released recently. While toxicology reports are still pending, a source told TMZ that authorities believe it was an oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl that proved fatal to the actress. The sources also alleged that Panettiere had a drug dealer from whom she purchased black-market prescription drugs the day before she passed away.

However, nothing has been officially confirmed, as authorities are still waiting on the toxicology report results; this is simply the working theory for now. Hickerson apparently gave first responders a bag of Panetierre’s medications on the day of her death, and is also reportedly cooperating with the DEA on the investigation.

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