There appears to be a discrepancy in the information Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick gave to police in relation to a shooting that occurred outside of a Virginia Beach nightclub on June 24.
Quanis Phillips, a co-defendant in the dogfighting case that sent both Vick and Phillips to federal jail two years ago, was shot outside of Guadalajara nightclub last Thursday during a birthday celebration for the 30-year-old NFL star.
Vick’s attorney, Larry Woodward, told The Associated Press that his client was “long gone” from the club before the shooting occurred, initially saving Vick from scrutiny by the Virginia Beach Police.
But according to the ESPN, the club’s spokesman Allen Fabijan said surveillance video shows that Vick left only minutes before Phillips was shot.
Fabijan said that Vick and his entourage left the club in two cars at 2:07 a.m.; three minutes later, shots were fired.
“You can see everybody duck at 2:10,” Fabijan told reporters. “I’m not saying that Michael Vick did the shooting. But he did not leave (long) before.”
Police now say Vick’s status in their investigation has changed.
“We didn’t know anything,” said police spokesman Adam Bernstein of his initial statements about the case in a USAToday.com article. “Since then, we have viewed this video. And more people have come forward, giving information.”
Vick’s attorney stood by his initial statements when contacted by the media.
“I stand by what I said, that Michael was long gone before the shooting, does not know who did the shooting and had nothing to do with the shooting,” Woodward told the Daily News. “Anyone who says any different better be very careful.”
Vick, who served 18 months in federal prison, is prohibited from contact with any felons, including Phillips, who also served 21 months in jail for his involvement in the dogfighting operation.
If Vick, currently serving a three-year probation, is found in any kind of violation, he could lose his active status in the NFL.