Fletcher Cox’s 911 call on October 15, 2019 captured the then–Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle warning a dispatcher he was armed with a shotgun and would shoot a man trying to break into his Harrison Township, New Jersey home. The roughly seven-minute recording, later released under the state’s Open Public Records Act, ran from the moment the intruder began smashing windows until police took over the pursuit. Cox never fired the weapon, and no one was hurt.1PhillyVoice. Fletcher Cox 911 Call: Shotgun and Blow Brains Out
What Was Happening Outside the House
The man at the door was Corbyn Nyemah, a 25-year-old from Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. He had gone to Cox’s residence looking for his ex-girlfriend, who was staying at the home and dating Cox at the time. According to court documents, Nyemah wanted to “rekindle their romance” after a two-year relationship with the woman.2PhillyVoice. Eagles Fletcher Cox Incident at South Jersey Home
Surveillance cameras on the property showed Nyemah circling the house with a baseball bat and trying to enter the garage multiple times. When he couldn’t get in, he threw large rocks through the front door windows and damaged the woman’s BMW in the driveway. Investigators put the property damage at more than $2,000.3CBS News Philadelphia. Fletcher Cox 911 Call Released46abc. Fletcher Cox Allegedly Uses Shotgun to Thwart Intruder
What Cox Said on the Call
Cox armed himself with a shotgun and dialed 911 from inside the house. He identified himself and made his situation plain in the first seconds. “I got someone trying to break in my house, and I’m about to blow his brains out right now,” he told the dispatcher. “He busted my door, part of my door. I have a shotgun. If he comes in the house, I’ll blow his brains out.”1PhillyVoice. Fletcher Cox 911 Call: Shotgun and Blow Brains Out
As Nyemah continued smashing windows, Cox narrated what he was seeing. “I am secure, but I’ve got my shotgun and I swear to God he’s busting every window out of my house right now.” He told the operator his gun was “off safety” and gave the intruder “about 30 seconds.”5FOX 29. Fletcher Cox 911 Call Released
The dispatcher repeatedly tried to keep him in place. “Mr. Cox, can you get somewhere where you’re secure?” she asked, and, “Is there any way you can lock yourself in a room?” Cox watched the intruder through his home surveillance system and gave a running account, including when Nyemah began damaging the woman’s car.66abc. Fletcher Cox 911 Call Released
How the Call Ended
When Nyemah saw Cox with the weapon, he fled the property in a black Porsche SUV.7NBC Philadelphia. Fletcher Cox Break-In at Harrison Township Home Cox relayed the description to the dispatcher, who passed it to patrol units. Officers soon confirmed they were behind the vehicle. A responding officer then instructed Cox to unload his shotgun and put it down. Cox complied, telling the dispatcher, “The gun is down and unloaded.”66abc. Fletcher Cox 911 Call Released
What Happened to the Intruder
Harrison Township police pursued Nyemah for at least 10 miles before terminating the chase near the Commodore Barry Bridge because of his erratic driving. After the pursuit ended, Nyemah allegedly sent his ex-girlfriend a text with a photo of himself holding a firearm. Investigators noted that in the period leading up to the break-in, he had sent her texts of a “suicidal nature” that also included photos of himself with a gun.2PhillyVoice. Eagles Fletcher Cox Incident at South Jersey Home8NBC Philadelphia. Listen: Here Is the 7-Minute 911 Call From Eagles Star Fletcher Cox
U.S. Marshals captured Nyemah later that week. He was charged with burglary, two counts of criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and eluding police, and posted bond ahead of a court appearance in late October 2019. A temporary restraining order was granted on behalf of his ex-girlfriend the same day as the break-in. In interviews after his arrest, Nyemah reportedly acknowledged the accuracy of the account laid out in court records.9Courier Post Online. Eagles Fletcher Cox Reports Incident at Mullica Hill NJ Home46abc. Fletcher Cox Allegedly Uses Shotgun to Thwart Intruder
Why Cox Was Not Charged
Cox never fired the shotgun and was not charged in connection with the incident. Under N.J.S. 2C:3-4, a person in their own home may use force, including deadly force, if they reasonably believe it is immediately necessary to protect against unlawful force by an intruder, and has no duty to retreat before doing so when the intruder has unlawfully and forcibly entered.10Justia. New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 2C:3-4 New Jersey does not have a broad “stand your ground” law; outside the home, the state imposes a duty to retreat before resorting to deadly force. Cox stayed inside throughout the encounter, and the situation resolved when Nyemah fled and officers took over.
How the Recording Became Public
Harrison Township police initially declined to release records about the incident. A department spokesperson told reporters, “We are unable, by law, to release any information on this incident.”11Times Herald. Eagles Fletcher Cox Calls Cops on Delco Man After Run-In at His New Jersey House The 911 recording itself was obtainable under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, which defines government records to include sound recordings made in the course of official business.12State of New Jersey. Open Public Records Act A 2003 appellate ruling had already established that 911 tapes are subject to disclosure under OPRA, even during active criminal investigations.13Law.com. Court Rules 911 Tapes Subject to Disclosure Under OPRA Multiple media outlets obtained and published the recording later in October 2019.