Undefeated boxing legend Terence Crawford has been convicted of careless driving and ordered to pay a $75 fine plus $49 in court costs, bringing a legal conclusion to a late-night traffic stop last year that saw police draw their weapons on the champion and his entourage.
The ruling was delivered on Monday, April 13, 2026, by a court in Omaha, Nebraska. It stemmed from an incident in the early hours of September 28, 2025—which was also Crawford’s birthday—just hours after the city held a downtown parade celebrating his historic victory over Canelo Álvarez.
The Traffic Stop: Firearms and Drawn Weapons
According to police, officers initiated the stop shortly before 1:30 a.m. in downtown Omaha after observing Crawford’s vehicle being driven recklessly; one report indicated he was travelling at twice the speed limit.
The situation escalated rapidly when, during the stop, Crawford’s head of security, Qasim Shabazz, informed an officer by the front passenger window that he was carrying a legal firearm. Seconds later, an officer on the driver’s side spotted a gun on the floorboard. With this discovery, and with the officer on the driver’s side reportedly not hearing Crawford’s attempt to declare his own legal firearm, police drew their weapons and ordered all four occupants out of the vehicle for safety.
A video of the stop, which circulated on social media, shows Crawford exiting with his hands in the air, stating, “I’m not reaching for no gun.” The stop lasted approximately 30 minutes, according to a subsequent lawsuit. Police confirmed that all occupants, including Crawford and Shabazz, were legally permitted to carry firearms under Nebraska law. Crawford was ticketed for reckless driving and released at the scene.
The legal context of the stop is significant. A Nebraska law passed in 2023 made it legal to carry a concealed firearm without a permit, but it requires citizens to immediately alert law enforcement if they are in possession of a concealed weapon during an interaction.
Investigation and Lawsuit
The high-profile stop prompted Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer to conduct an internal investigation into the officers’ conduct. Chief Schmaderer later stated that the officers were found to have acted lawfully.
However, the incident has led to further legal action. Crawford’s bodyguard, Qasim Shabazz (also known as Carl Thomas), filed a lawsuit against the City of Omaha on behalf of himself, Crawford, and the two other passengers. The suit alleges the group was held at gunpoint in violation of their constitutional rights and experienced “intense fear and terror.” Shabazz claims he informed officers of his firearm as required but refused an order to hand it over, fearing he would be shot.
In response to the incident, Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. and Police Chief Schmaderer issued statements acknowledging the seriousness of the event and the importance of community trust. Mayor Ewing indicated he would work with the police department to implement new training for both officers and residents on handling traffic stops involving weapons, citing the increased complexity brought by the state’s recent firearm law changes.
The fine marks a subdued postscript to a monumental year for the fighter. The traffic stop occurred just hours after Omaha fêted his unanimous decision victory over Álvarez on September 13, 2025—a win that made Crawford the first male boxer in the four-belt era to become undisputed champion in three weight classes: light welterweight, welterweight, and super middleweight. The five-division world champion, who retired in December 2025 with an unblemished 42-0 record and 31 knockouts, stated at the time he was leaving the sport on his own terms.
