James Pierce Jr., a rookie with the Atlanta Falcons, reportedly got involved in a serious situation early Saturday morning in Doral, Florida. It’s claimed that he crashed his white Lamborghini SUV into a car driven by WNBA player Rikea Jackson—not once, but twice. Subsequently, he allegedly hit a police officer in an effort to escape arrest.
Jackson, who recently ended a three-year relationship with Pierce, told the authorities that he had been following her in his vehicle that day. Matters escalated when she attempted to enter his car at a red light, but he took off instead.
During the incident, Jackson mentioned she was on her way to the police station when Pierce rear-ended her, leading to a collision. An affidavit from the Miami-Dade County State’s Attorney’s Office suggested that photos of Jackson’s car supported her account of the damage.
Pierce faced multiple charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated stalking, as noted in jail records. When police arrived, he was outside his car, but when an officer drew a gun and ordered him down, he allegedly got back in the vehicle, closed the door, and drove away.
As he fled, his car reportedly struck an officer’s knee. Pierce later crashed at an intersection and tried to run on foot.
According to the complaint, he resisted arrest, making it difficult for the officers to apprehend him. After being treated at the scene, he was taken to Jackson West Medical Center for evaluation and later released on $20,500 bail.
Jackson had previously blocked Pierce’s phone number to avoid him, but he still managed to contact her using a different number. She even sent him an email the day before the incident, asking him to leave her alone.
Pierce’s legal team asserts his innocence, indicating that the complete story has yet to unfold. They expressed eagerness to uncover the truth through collaboration with the State Attorney’s Office, emphasizing that allegations can often skew perceptions.
The Falcons organization acknowledged awareness of the incident and mentioned they are gathering more information. They opted not to comment on ongoing legal issues.
This situation came to light shortly after Pierce attended the 2026 NFL Honors Ceremony in San Francisco. Their breakup was confirmed by Jackson in September of the previous year, though she had previously supported him at a draft party when the Falcons selected him with the 26th overall pick in 2025.
Throughout his debut season, Pierce made a significant impact, finishing third for the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and recording a Falcons rookie record of 10.5 sacks. Jackson, selected fourth in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Sparks, had a solid performance, averaging 14.7 points in her second season.
