Brian Hickerson, the on-again, off-again boyfriend of late actress Hayden Panettiere, was detained by police following a bloody bar altercation at a South Carolina restaurant on September 12, 2026. His brother Zachary Hickerson was arrested for disorderly conduct during the incident, which occurred weeks after Panettiere’s death.
Wild Wing Cafe Altercation and Police Response
The Greenville Police Department dispatched officers to the Wild Wing Cafe at approximately 9:10 p.m. following a report of an assault inside the restaurant. Authorities stated that Brian Hickerson and his brother Zachary Hickerson were among several individuals involved in the altercation. On Sept. 12 at approximately 9:10 p.m., officers were dispatched to Wild Wing Café in South Carolina after receiving a report of an assault inside the restaurant, according to a statement from the Greenville Police Department obtained by Fox News Digital. Upon arrival, officers located several individuals involved,
according to the statement.
Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zachary Hickerson, were among several individuals involved in an altercation
at Wild Wing Café, with multiple patrons
detained while the incident was investigated, the Greenville Police Department said in a Sept. 13 statement to USA TODAY. Officers were dispatched to the restaurant around 9:10 p.m. in reference to a reported assault inside the restaurant.
According to police, “During the investigation, officers determined that Zachary Hickerson was highly intoxicated. He began yelling profanities in a public setting, and as a result, he was taken into custody for disorderly conduct and transported to the Greenville County Detention Center.” Meanwhile, Brian Hickerson was released from the scene, police said.
Officers detained multiple patrons while investigating the disturbance. According to police statements, investigators determined that Zachary Hickerson was highly intoxicated and began yelling profanities in a public setting. He was subsequently taken into custody and transported to the Greenville County Detention Center.
The Greenville Police Department identified Brian Hickerson and his brother Zachary Hickerson as two individuals involved in the incident at Wild Wing Cafe on Sept. 12. Zachary Hickerson, who was highly intoxicated,
was taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct while Brian Hickerson was released from the scene, police said. The incident comes just weeks after a police report showed that the brothers were present when Panettiere was pronounced dead on Aug. 16. Zachary Hickerson and Brian Hickerson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. According to Greenville Police, officers were dispatched to the restaurant at around 9:10 p.m. on Saturday.
Jail records show the brother of late actress Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend was released on bond Sunday following his arrest at a Greenville restaurant. The Greenville Police Department said Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was detained. Officials said his brother, Zach Hickerson, was arrested following an alleged assault. Police said officers were called to the Wild Wing Cafe around 9:10 p.m. for a reported assault inside the restaurant. Officers said upon arrival, they found several people involved in an altercation. Multiple people were detained while the incident was being investigated, according to police. Two of the people detained were Brian and Zach, police said. During the investigation, officers found that Zach was highly intoxicated. He began yelling profanities in a public setting. As a result, police said Zach was taken into custody for disorderly conduct and taken to the Greenville County Detention Center. He was released Sunday afternoon on bond. Brian was released.
Greenville Police Department
While his brother faced formal charges, Brian Hickerson was released from the scene and was not charged in connection with the fight.
Video Footage and Public Frustration
Footage circulating online from the scene showed Brian Hickerson with blood on his face, handcuffed outside the establishment. In video clips obtained by media outlets, he was seen throwing a bar stool backward before police intervened. TMZ shared that news, along with some photos. The outlet reports that police responded to calls about an “assault”, and that Hickerson and his brother Zach were among those detained during the investigation. Zach was ultimately arrested for disorderly conduct.
Video of the incident also appears to show Hickerson saying that the Greenville Police Department “leaked” the news when Panettiere died last month. Both Hickerson and Zach were present at the scene of the star’s death. Patron-filmed video obtained by TMZ shows a chaotic scene.
A video of the altercation shows Hickerson confronting other patrons. In the footage, several people intervene to remove him from the establishment. According to reports on the incident, before leaving the premises, Hickerson allegedly grabbed a barstool and threw it backward.
During the confrontation, Hickerson yelled toward observers regarding law enforcement involvement surrounding the sudden death of the “Heroes” star the previous month.
Brian Hickerson said that the Greenville Police Department “leaked” the news when Panettiere died last month.
Patron-filmed video obtained by TMZ
Context Surrounding Hayden Panettiere’s Death
The restaurant altercation occurred less than a month after Panettiere died at age 36 on August 16 inside an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina. Both Brian and Zachary Hickerson were present at the residence when emergency responders arrived following a call reporting an unresponsive person.
According to police reports, Zachary Hickerson was very emotional during resuscitative efforts, whereas Brian Hickerson did not become emotional until paramedics officially declared the actress deceased. Investigators recovered a bag of medication at the scene that had allegedly been in Brian’s possession.
Preliminary autopsy results confirmed no signs of trauma contributing to Panettiere’s death. However, comprehensive toxicology results and official cause determinations remain pending from the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, a process authorities note can take up to three months.
Family Friction and Ongoing Scrutiny
Following Panettiere’s passing, her estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, criticized the ongoing presence of her daughter’s on-again, off-again partner. Hayden Panettiere’s estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, has broken her silence on the actress’ tragic death at 36. I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments,
Vogel told NBC News Tuesday. And I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry — it is a struggle, and it’s a very challenging industry, and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path.
The grieving mother, who was a former soap opera actress herself, went on to slam her daughter’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, who was with Panettiere at the time of her death. This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death,
Vogel added, and that was Brian Hickerson.
Vogel told the outlet that she has very little information about the ongoing investigation into the actress’ heartbreaking death.
This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson.
Lesley Vogel
Representatives for Hickerson previously released a statement emphasizing that the death remains under investigation and urging respect for the privacy of those grieving while authorities complete their review.
