Dallas‑area attorney Levi McCathern is representing former NFL wide receiver Dez Bryant after a parking‑lot confrontation that has drawn widespread online attention. According to McCathern, Bryant was not the aggressor; instead, he was targeted by 19‑year‑old Noah Reyes, who allegedly drove recklessly to provoke a reaction that could be captured on camera.
Allegations of a set‑up
McCathern told OutKick that Bryant was on his way to dinner when Reyes and a group of companions began “driving recklessly around him,” cutting him off and slamming on their brakes directly in front of his vehicle. The attorney says multiple eyewitnesses have come forward confirming that Reyes’ driving put other motorists at risk on a public road.
When Reyes failed to elicit a response, McCathern alleges the teenager threatened to shoot Bryant. “What is a person supposed to do with that? Between what Mr. Reyes was saying and what Dez saw him doing, Dez believed he was in real danger,” the lawyer said. He added that Bryant had no way of knowing whether a firearm was present, and “no one in that moment would.”
Legal repercussions
Following the altercation, Dallas police cited Bryant for assault by contact, a Class C misdemeanor under Texas law. Bryant’s next court appearance is scheduled for December 2, where the matter will be addressed.
McCathern maintains that the incident was not an accident but a calculated effort to provoke a public confrontation and generate a viral video. “Based on what they’ve told us, we believe this was never an accident. It was set up to provoke Dez into a public confrontation and create a viral moment, on camera,” he said.
Witness accounts and video evidence
The attorney points out that the circulating video only shows Bryant’s reaction, not the reckless driving or any alleged threat. “The video going around doesn’t show the driving, and it doesn’t show the threat. It shows exactly what it was meant to show: the reaction,” McCathern explained.
According to the lawyer, additional witnesses have corroborated Bryant’s version of events and indicated that Reyes has exhibited similar behavior toward others in the past.
Background on Bryant
Dez Bryant played nine seasons in the NFL, spending eight with the Dallas Cowboys and one with the Baltimore Ravens. Over 119 games, he recorded 537 receptions for 7,506 yards and 75 touchdowns, earning three Pro Bowl selections.
The case highlights the challenges public figures face when personal disputes become amplified by social‑media platforms. While the legal process proceeds, Bryant’s representatives continue to assert his innocence and emphasize the alleged provocation by Reyes.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
