Brian Hickerson Handcuffed After Bar Altercation Weeks After Hayden Panettiere’s Death

Brian Hickerson, the on-and-off boyfriend of late actress Hayden Panettiere, was briefly detained and handcuffed by police following an alleged altercation at a South Carolina bar, less than a month after the actress’ sudden death.

The incident took place on Saturday, September 12, at Wild Wing Cafe in Greenville, South Carolina, where Hickerson was spending the evening with his brother, Zach Hickerson.

Video footage from the scene appeared to show Brian becoming involved in a heated confrontation with other patrons before throwing a bar stool. He was later carried out of the restaurant as the situation escalated.

Police eventually placed both brothers in handcuffs outside the establishment while officers investigated what had happened.

Brian Hickerson Released Without Charges

According to reports, Greenville police responded to the restaurant following a report of an assault at around 9 p.m.

Brian, 37, was temporarily detained but was not arrested or charged in connection with the incident. He was released at the scene after officers investigated.

His brother Zach, however, was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge. Police said Zach appeared highly intoxicated and was shouting profanities while officers were handling the situation.

During his detention, Brian was captured on video referring to Hayden Panettiere’s death and accusing the Greenville Police Department of leaking information related to the case.

Reports also suggested that the confrontation inside the bar may have intensified after other customers began questioning or criticizing the brothers over Panettiere’s death.

Brian allegedly became upset before the argument escalated into a physical confrontation.

Incident Comes Weeks After Hayden Panettiere’s Sudden Death

The bar incident occurred less than one month after Panettiere was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville on August 16, 2026.

The former Heroes and Nashville star was 36 years old.

Emergency responders attempted lifesaving measures after arriving at the residence, but Panettiere was later pronounced dead.

Brian and Zach Hickerson were both at the residence when first responders arrived, according to police reports.

Zach later described the events surrounding the emergency, saying he had gone to the home after being unable to reach Brian or Panettiere. After realizing that the actress was unresponsive, emergency services were contacted and attempts were made to revive her while responders were on their way.

Authorities have said a preliminary examination found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to Panettiere’s death.

Her official cause and manner of death remain under investigation as authorities await additional findings, including toxicology results.

Brian Hickerson Reportedly Met With Federal Investigators

The investigation into Panettiere’s death has continued in the weeks since she died.

On September 10, People reported that Brian Hickerson had met with officials from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as part of the ongoing investigation.

A source close to the investigation said authorities had also interviewed other individuals while examining the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death.

Hickerson has not been charged with any crime in connection with her death.

Authorities have also emphasized that the investigation remains active and that no official final cause of death has been announced.

Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson Had an On-and-Off Relationship

Panettiere and Hickerson were first romantically linked in 2018 and had a complicated relationship marked by several breakups and reconciliations.

Hickerson also faced multiple legal issues involving domestic violence allegations during their relationship.

In 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a partner in connection with a previous case involving Panettiere. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, four years of formal probation and domestic violence education classes. He was also ordered to pay restitution and comply with a protective order.

Despite their troubled history, Panettiere and Hickerson were reportedly spending time together again before her death.

The actress had previously spoken publicly about difficult periods in her personal life as well as the challenges she faced away from the spotlight.

Investigation Into Hayden Panettiere’s Death Remains Ongoing

Panettiere rose to fame as a child actress before becoming widely recognized for her role as Claire Bennet in NBC’s Heroes. She later starred as Juliette Barnes in the hit musical drama Nashville.

Her unexpected death at 36 prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and members of the entertainment industry.

Nearly a month later, questions surrounding the circumstances of her death remain unanswered.

Authorities have not announced a final cause of death, and the investigation is continuing.

Meanwhile, Brian Hickerson’s latest encounter with police has drawn renewed attention because of its timing and his comments about Panettiere while being detained.

Although Hickerson was handcuffed during the September 12 bar incident, police ultimately released him without filing charges related to the altercation.