BLOOMINGTON — Indiana University redshirt freshman defensive lineman Tyrone Burrus Jr. will not face criminal charges following an arrest on Thursday afternoon by the Bloomington Police Department.
Monroe County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jeff Kehr confirmed on Friday that prosecutors declined to file formal charges against Burrus or 18-year-old Kira Marie Motley, citing insufficient evidence to move forward with the case.
Burrus, 19, was released from the Monroe County Jail shortly before 1:00 p.m. on Friday after being held overnight on preliminary charges of Level 6 felony strangulation and Class A misdemeanor domestic battery.
Explaining the decision not to pursue charges, Kehr stated in a release that after reviewing the evidence gathered by police, prosecutors determined the legal threshold could not be met in court.
“We determined that the case cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Kehr stated.
Under Indiana law, preliminary charges booked by law enforcement serve as an initial holding basis while prosecutors review witness statements, video footage, and physical evidence to decide whether to file formal court charges.
Details of the Incident
According to the Bloomington Police Department, officers were called around 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, to the Empire Apartments in the 200 block of East 20th Street, located just west of Memorial Stadium, for a report of a physical altercation.
Investigators determined that Burrus and Motley, who were involved in a relationship and had been cohabitating since early July, got into a verbal argument regarding Burrus attending the apartment complex pool with friends. The dispute subsequently turned physical:
Motley alleged that Burrus pushed her several times and grabbed her by the neck and forearm, restricting her breathing.
Burrus told officers Motley broke a mirror in the residence, pushed him, and sprayed him in the face with pepper spray.
Officers documented visible scratches on Burrus’s neck, face, chest, shoulder, back, and arms.
Both Burrus and Motley were initially taken into custody and booked into the Monroe County Jail on domestic battery charges. Both individuals have since been cleared of all charges by the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office.
IU Athletics previously acknowledged the situation, stating it was monitoring the legal process.
Burrus, a former four-star recruit out of Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, joined Coach Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers after flipping his commitment from Louisville. He appeared in two games during the 2025 season to preserve his redshirt status and is expected to compete for an expanded role along the Hoosiers’ defensive line rotation this fall.
Athletic Department Response and Player Background
In a statement addressing the incident, Indiana University Athletics indicated it was actively monitoring the legal proceedings:
“IU Athletics is aware of the situation. We will continue to gather facts, cooperate with and monitor the legal process, and take further action as the evolving situation warrants.”
Burrus was a highly sought-after, four-star edge rusher out of Warren Central High School who committed to head coach Curt Cignetti’s program after flipping his pledge from Louisville in late 2024. After appearing in two games during his true freshman season to preserve his redshirt status, the 6-foot-4 defensive lineman was anticipated to step into an expanded role in the Hoosiers’ defensive line rotation.
