Suspect in shooting of NFL player Curtis Brinkley turns himself in

Mystery solved, but questions remain in the shooting last month of NFL player Curtis Brinkley.

The man who allegedly shot Brinkley, 23, while the player was seated in a parked car in Elkins Park turned himself in late Saturday, and a relative said he was known to the Brinkley family.

Anthony Peterson, 23, of 19th Street near Pacific in Tioga, is the boyfriend of Brinkley's sister, Niveka Cason-Johnson, said Brinkley's grandmother Marge Cason. The couple are parents of Brinkley's 1-year-old nephew, she said.

Peterson was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and related offenses by Cheltenham Township police.

Investigators would not say what the motive was behind the shooting.

Peterson was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Christopher Cerski, who denied Peterson bail. He was remanded to Montgomery County Correctional Facility pending a preliminary hearing set for 10 a.m. Aug. 19, police said.

Peterson was present for the birth of his son, who turned 1 in February, Cason said.

"He was awesome. I had a lot of respect for him, the way he coached her through the birth. He stayed overnight and was completely there for Niveka," she told the Daily News.

She is studying nursing on a scholarship at Villanova University, Brinkley's grandmother said.

Brinkley was at home with his grandmother on July 10 when his sister called to ask him if he could pick her up from her job working with mentally challenged people.

Brinkley, a 5-foot-9 running back whose moves caught the interest of the San Diego Chargers, was shot multiple times in the shoulder. The injury sent bone fragments through his back.

The 2004 graduate of West Catholic High School was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Syracuse by the Chargers on April 26. He rushed for 1,164 yards and seven touchdowns last year with the Orange.