A judge in Lafayette County dismissed the protective order against Laremy Tunsil after closing arguments at a recent court hearing.
Lindsey Miller, stepfather to the All-American offensive lineman at the University of Mississippi, had obtained the protective order resulting from the June 25 altercation for which both men were in court on Friday.
According to Rivals.com, Miller represented himself at the hearing while Tunsil retained Steve Farese, an attorney from Ashland, Miss.
Miller said the incident started at his home in Taylor when he confronted his wife, who is Tunsil's mother, Desiree, about her son "riding around with [NFL] agents and taking things." Miller said Desiree then went outside to hell her son his stepfather called her stupid, Rivals.com reported.
Miller recalled extending his hand to Tunsil when the offensive lineman walked inside, at which point he said he was punched in the face. Miller said Tunsil knocked him to the floor and kept hitting him to the point of "almost blacking out." Miller said Tunsil dealt "deadly blows" and gave him a "severe head injury."
The police report indicates Miller refused medial attention when they arrived, Rivals.com reported, at which time Tunsil had left. Miller said he did not want medical attention because he was "terrified" for himself and his children from a previous marriage.
Tunsil's version of events was starkly different, Rivals.com reported. He said in court that he was stopping by Miller's home to pick his mother up for a dinner meeting with an NFL agent.
Ole Miss head football coach Hugh Freeze previously stated he knew Tunsil was involved with NFL agents, but acknowledged NCAA rules allowed for such.
Tunsil stated he confronted Miller when he saw his mother shoved into a chair. He said Miller then turned on him, poked him in the chest and told his mother to "get out" before he hit Miller.
"Every young man who sees his mother being abused is going to respond," Farese said in closing statements, according to Rivals.com. "It's hereditary."
How this incident affects Tunsil's playing status remains to be seen and heavily depends on how the matter is resolved in court. Tunsil's meeting with agents is permissible as long as he did not accept any gifts, which Miller has accused his stepson of doing. Ole Miss' athletic department is also apparently waiting for the court case to play out before addressing the matter.
