Brian Hickerson comments on Hayden Panettiere's death amid ongoing investigation

Brian Hickerson, the former boyfriend of actress Hayden Panettiere, was approached by a photographer at a Greenville, South Carolina gas station on Wednesday. When asked how he was coping, he replied, "How do you think I’m doing?" He added a brief acknowledgment of the photographer’s condolences, saying, "Appreciate it. That’s all I got for you, man."

Hickerson, who sustained a visible injury near his left eye after a bar altercation in Greenville on Saturday, was handcuffed by police but later released without charges. Video footage shows him involved in a dispute that escalated, with police eventually separating him from other participants.

The Greenville Police Department confirmed that Hickerson’s brother, Zach Hickerson, was detained for disorderly conduct after becoming intoxicated and using profanity when officers arrived at the scene.

In a statement released after Panettiere’s death, Hickerson’s attorney emphasized that the case remains under investigation and that no further comment would be made out of respect for the family.

Panettiere was found unresponsive at an Airbnb in Greenville on August 16 and was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. after emergency responders attempted resuscitation for an apparent overdose. The investigation is examining whether an oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl contributed to her death, and the Drug Enforcement Administration is reviewing related text messages with a suspected drug supplier.

Police records indicate that both Brian and Zach Hickerson were present at the location where Panettiere was found. A subsequent welfare check placed Brian at his grandmother’s residence nearby. The investigation continues, and authorities have not released further details.