Brian Hickerson responded to condolences regarding Hayden Panettiere's death one month after her passing by saying he appreciated them but had nothing further to add. The article details an altercation at a bar in Greenville where Hickerson was seen throwing a stool and later arrested, though not charged; his brother Zach was taken into custody for disorderly conduct. Police reports indicate that Panettiere died from cardiac arrest following what appeared to be an overdose, with emergency responders attempting CPR before pronouncing her death.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On the one-month anniversary of Hayden Panettiere's death, Brian Hickerson addressed the tragedy in a candid response while being photographed near Greenville. Earlier this week, TMZ reported that investigators believe Panettiere died after consuming an oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl—a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Hickerson responded indirectly by stating, "How do you think I’m doing?" when a photographer expressed condolences.
The day before, Hickerson was involved in an altercation at a Greenville bar where he allegedly threw a stool and engaged with other patrons, leading to his handcuffing by the Greenville Police Department (GPD). Despite this, no charges were filed against him. A video obtained by TMZ showed Hickerson yelling, "GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died," referring to Panettiere's death.
A spokesperson for the GPD said that Zach Hickerson, Brian’s brother and co-attendee of the bar, was highly intoxicated and verbally abusive toward police, leading to his arrest on disorderly conduct charges.
Written for “Hayden Panettiere Tragedy Response” on 2026-09-17,
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Hickerson — clad in a yellow t-shirt and wearing a backwards gray baseball cap — responded, “How do you think I’m doing?”
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I → clothe → cap
The photographer then extended his condolences, to which he replied, “Appreciate it.
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he → extend → it
That’s all I got for you, man.
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I → ’ → you
He had a visible injury by his left eye, presumably from his altercation Saturday at a bar in Greenville with other patrons.
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He → have → patrons
While Hickerson was handcuffed by police, he was ultimately released from the scene and was not charged.
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he → handcuff → scene
Video obtained by TMZ shows him flinging a bar stool before the scene turned chaotic.
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scene → obtain → stool
Multiple people are heard yelling at him to “stop,” before he’s forcefully picked up from behind by another man and dragged away from the altercation.
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he → hear → altercation
Hickerson was seen sitting on the ground and handcuffed outside in a video posted on X, and he yells, “GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died,” clearly referencing Panettiere.
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girlfriend → see → Panettiere
A spokesperson for the Greenville Police Department told Page Six Sunday that his brother, Zach Hickerson — who was with Brian at the bar — was “highly intoxicated” and started yelling profanities when police arrived at the scene.
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police → tell → scene
As a result, he was taken into custody for disorderly conduct and transported to the Greenville County DetentionCenter.
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he → take → DetentionCenter
Brian’s attorney previously spoke out on his behalf after Panettiere’s death, telling Page Six in a statement, “Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed.”
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investigation → speak → investigation
“Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time,” the statement continued.
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statement → love → time
According to the Greenville Police Department’s heavily redacted report obtained by Page Six, responding officer Matthew Bryan noted Zach was “very emotional” while emergency medical services professionals “were working on [Panettiere].”
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professionals → accord → Panettiere
But Brian — whom Zach referred to as his “brother’s girlfriend” — “did not become emotional” until Panettiere was officially declared dead.
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Panettiere → refer → girlfriend
He was spotted three days after her death in Greenville with Zach.
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He → spot → Zach
Page Six confirmed that Brian was staying at his grandmother Betty Ellison’s house after Panettiere’s death.
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Brian → confirm → death
Cops also did a welfare check that morning at his grandmother’s home.
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Cops → do → home
Ellison’s four-bedroom home is about five miles away from the Judson Mill Lofts apartment complex where the “Nashville” alum died.
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alum → die → complex
According to the 911 dispatch audio obtained by Page Six regarding Panettiere’s death, paramedics responded to a call about an “unidentified female” in “cardiac arrest” and, within minutes, “CPR [was] in progress” for the “overdose.”
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CPR → accord → overdose
Emergency responders attempted to resuscitate her at the apartment complex with “advanced cardiac life support” and chest compressions, but she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
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she → attempt → p.m.
Brian and the “Heroes” alum first met in 2018 and had a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship.
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Brian → meet → relationship
He’s been arrested multiple times for domestic violence against Panettiere, and she wrote candidly about suffering abuse from him in her memoir “This Is Me: A Reckoning.”
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This → arrest → memoir
A source exclusively told Page Six that Panettiere reconnected with Brian about two weeks before her sudden death.
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Panettiere → tell → death
According to our source, “Brian would always find a way to work his way back into Hayden’s life as ‘a friend.’”
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Brian → accord → friend
Our insider added that Panettiere’s inner circle was “always concerned” about her relationship with him, whom our informant branded “bad news” and “a real jerk.”
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informant → add → whom
Earlier this week, TMZ reported that investigators believe Panettiere took an oxycodone pill that was laced with fentanyl — a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine — on the morning she died.
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she → report → morning
The outlet reported that she allegedly consumed several drugs she bought from a “long-time drug dealer” in Los Angeles on her flight to South Carolina the day before she died.
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she → report → Carolina
The years-long text conversations between Panettiere and the alleged drug dealer have become the focus of the DEA’s investigation into the actress’ death.
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conversations → allege → death
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
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you → know → 88788
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voice → matter → ?
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Discussions → moderate → civility
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