Empire actor, Bryshere Gray, charged with assault and battery after alleged fight with associate

Bryshere Y. Gray, best known for his role as Hakeem Lyon on Empire, is reportedly facing assault and battery charges in Chesapeake, Virginia. 

According to WAVY, police said the 31-year-old actor was not arrested by officers, but rather charged by a private citizen. 

He has been charged with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery. 

Dustin Wilkins, one of Gray’s associates who goes by the name Chosen Wilkins, told WAVY the two were involved in an altercation following an argument on Friday afternoon. Wilkins claims Gray charged him from behind, resulting in the complaint. 

Gray was reportedly arrested on Sunday, June 15, and has since bonded out of jail. 

“As I was explaining to him that he can’t just leave without paying, adding you have enough problems… I am trying to save your life,” the arrest warrant reportedly states. 

“He then charged towards me from around the car. Charged into me with his shoulder… and fought me as I was recording the incident over the phone… a blunt blow into me and punching me.” 

Despite the incident, Wilkins described Gray as “not a bad person,” claiming that he suffers from mental health issues. 

“Something took place in a mental health aspect. I cannot disclose what happened, I cannot disclose the details of that,” Wilkins told WAVY. “All I can tell you is Bryshere is a friend, he’s like my brother. He is just someone who is dealing with some very interesting mental health issues.” 

Wilkins added: “Bryshere doesn’t need to be in jail. He wouldn’t survive in jail. He needs mental help.” 

Gray is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on Wednesday, June 18. 

This isn’t his first run-in with the law. In 2020, Gray was accused of assaulting his wife in Arizona. After a 911 call and an hours-long standoff with a SWAT team, he was sentenced in 2021 to 10 days in jail and three years of probation after pleading guilty to felony aggravated assault. That same year, he was involved in what’s been described as a “food fight” in 7-Eleven. 

In 2022, he was reportedly arrested again for violating his probation.