World champion boxer Terence Crawford ordered out of car at gunpoint hours after his victory parade

World champion boxer Terence “Bud” Crawford was ordered out of his vehicle at gunpoint by Omaha police officers during a traffic stop for reckless driving early Sunday morning. This was just hours after his hometown had celebrated his historic victory with a parade. The entire tense incident, which was partially captured in a video, has sparked a public outcry and immediately prompted an internal affairs investigation by Police Chief Todd Schmaderer.

According to the Omaha Police Department, the incident started shortly before 1:30 AM when officers working downtown reportedly saw Crawford’s vehicle “driving recklessly”. During the initial stop, an officer stated they “observed a firearm on the driver’s side floorboard,” which led to all four occupants being ordered out of the vehicle at gunpoint, “For safety”. However, Crawford’s security chief, Qasim Shabazz, offered a starkly different and unsettling perspective on the encounter.

Shabazz, who was a passenger in the car, told WOWT NBC Omaha, “I thought we were getting ready to lose our lives… That was a nightmare, you know, future husband, just had a brand new child and children and stuff like that”. Video footage from the scene shows Crawford complying with the orders, unbuckling his seatbelt and stepping out of the car with his hands raised, and clearly stating, “I ain’t reaching for no gun, bro!”

Boxing legend Crawford may have faced racial prejudice during a traffic stop

Shabazz claimed that as soon as Crawford said he also had a firearm (as the passenger was also legally carrying one), the officer on his side “went ballistic”. Shabazz added that the officer was “Totally unhinged. He says, ‘Get your hands up. Get out the car. Don’t reach, don’t reach.’ But there was never a physical gun in sight”. Apparently, Shabazz and Crawford were even handcuffed until the police checked the champion’s license and realized who he was.

The officers eventually identified the driver as Crawford after checking his license and issued him a citation for reckless driving. Police later confirmed that all four occupants of the vehicle were legally permitted to carry firearms, including Crawford and a member of his security team, who also had a legal firearm. A police supervisor and lieutenant responded to the scene at the request of the champion, who is a huge hero in Omaha.

He still lives in his hometown, where he runs a non-profit boxing academy to help at-risk children. Omaha Mayor John Ewing quickly learned of the traffic stop and personally spoke with Crawford about the incident. The mayor expressed his concern, saying, “I acknowledge the seriousness of what occurred and how trust between law enforcement and our community is important and shows the need to be continuously vigilant about building relationships.”

Ewing strongly supports Police Chief Todd Schmaderer’s pledge for a “full and thorough” internal investigation and promised that the city will “gather all the facts and be transparent with the public about our findings”. Crawford, with an unblemished 42-0 record and 31 knockouts, had just been celebrated for becoming the unified super middleweight champion after his unanimous decision victory over Canelo Álvarez, which came after the boring Tyson v Paul fight. This incredible win made him the first male boxer to capture three unified division titles.

The entire city had come together for a parade in his honor, followed by a party to celebrate his 38th birthday near where the traffic stop happened. All this followed by what could be issues with racial profiling and/or police incompetence. Mayor Ewing summed up the feeling of the city when he said, “Understand that my heart dropped in learning of this end to an otherwise wonderful day and evening celebrating our city’s world boxing champion”. He emphasized that the city needs to “seek answers to how it ended” and “ensure that every resident, no matter who they are, feels safe and respected in Omaha”.