A man identified in a media report as the armed University of Kentucky student who allegedly accompanied a basketball player to a party was arrested Sunday on an unrelated charge.
Aaron Steele, 20, was charged with fourth-degree assault after allegedly striking and throwing a girl he knew against a wall by her throat, according to his arrest citation. Steele caused minor injury to the woman, according to his citation.
Several bruises were observed and she complained of pain throughout her whole body, according to court records.
According to the Courier-Journal, Steele allegedly accompanied UK basketball player Tai Wynyard to a party while carrying a gun last month. UK fraternity and sorority members used a group messaging app to warn each other about Steele, the Courier-Journal reported. Steele allegedly told a sorority member that he was “protecting” Wynyard.
UK has not confirmed any details about an investigation of Steele or his relationship to Wynyard. No charges were filed.
Wynyard, who also has a back injury that prevented him from playing, has been suspended from team activities because of an undisclosed violation of team rules.
Steele remains in the Fayette County Detention Center on the assault charge.