Post by pelicanguy on Oct 6, 2006 16:43:04 GMT -5
6 WRTV Indianapolis
Pacers' Jackson Fires Gun In Fight Outside Strip Club
Police Say Car Struck Player; Authorities Seek 3
INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson fired several shots in apparent self-defense early Friday during an altercation in which he was hit in the mouth and struck by a car outside a strip club, police said.
There were no reports of anyone hit by gunfire. No arrests were immediately made, but police said they were looking for the vehicle's occupants.
Investigators said Jackson was with three other Pacers players -- Jamaal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter -- when an altercation that included other people began inside Club Rio, on West 38th Street near Gemco Lane.
The altercation spilled into the club's parking lot at about 3 a.m. Jackson told police someone hit him in the mouth, and that a car then struck him in the leg, sending him tumbling onto the car's hood.
At some point in the altercation, Jackson, 28, fired his 9 mm pistol five times, police said. Police said they didn't know whether any of the shots hit the car.
Police said a surveillance video from the club showed the car striking Jackson and then leaving the area. The video also showed at least one shot being fired into the air, authorities said.
The video was not expected to be released to the news media Friday.
Jackson appeared to be slightly injured from the car strike and was limping, but he refused treatment at the scene, Mount said.
"It appears at this time to be a case of self-defense," Indianapolis police Sgt. Matthew Mount said. "We don't know what started the altercation right now, but (someone) did try to run him over with the car."
Police Seek Vehicle, Three Occupants
Police said they were looking for the vehicle that struck Jackson -- described as a blue, two-door, 1980s General Motors car with chrome rims -- and its three occupants.
Police gave the following descriptions of three who were inside the vehicle:
# A bald, stocky black man who goes by the street name "Dino." He is in his early to mid-20s, is between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 8 inches tall, and was wearing a black cap with the letters BB, police said.
# A short, thin black man who goes by the street name "Fingers," has only a thumb and two fingers on each hand and has unusually short arms. He is in his mid-20s, has short hair, and was wearing a sleeveless white T-shirt and dark pants, police said.
# A bald, heavy-set black man in his late 20s to early 30s.
Police said two of the Pacers -- Tinsley and Daniels -- told police they had guns in their vehicles. Jackson and Tinsley had Indiana gun permits and Daniels had a gun permit from Florida, police said.
Authorities said a small amount of marijuana was found in the passenger-side door of Tinsley's car. Officer could not determine to whom the pot belonged, so no arrests were made in connection with the marijuana.
Police said they were trying to determine whether Jackson acted in self-defense, but an initial investigation indicated that he did.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank declined to comment on the specifics of the case but said the league was monitoring the situation.
In a statement released Friday morning, the Pacers said that the players involved in the incident were cooperating with authorities.
"Since this is an ongoing review of the matters that took place Friday morning, the Pacers will have no further comment at this time," the team said.
The Pacers said they would not make the four players available for interviews, citing advice from legal counsel.
Training camp began this week, and the organization has been running commercials promising a fresh start.
"You make the right moves on and off the court. It's up to us to give the fans what they want to see," read a transcript from a portion of a commercial on the team's Web site. "It's up to us."
Jackson joined the Pacers in 2004 and averaged 16 points per game during the 2005-06 season.
The situation was the latest in a string of incidents during Jackson's stay with the Pacers. He was suspended 30 games for his role in a brawl with Detroit Pistons fans at Auburn Hills two seasons ago. Last season, he constantly argued with officials and coach Rick Carlisle and was singled out by team president Larry Bird for his negative attitude.
Bird said in May that the team's players will shape up or play elsewhere next season. He said he was done dealing with bad attitudes, selfishness and laziness.
Carlisle declined Friday to comment on the incident.
Pacers' Jackson Fires Gun In Fight Outside Strip Club
Police Say Car Struck Player; Authorities Seek 3
INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson fired several shots in apparent self-defense early Friday during an altercation in which he was hit in the mouth and struck by a car outside a strip club, police said.
There were no reports of anyone hit by gunfire. No arrests were immediately made, but police said they were looking for the vehicle's occupants.
Investigators said Jackson was with three other Pacers players -- Jamaal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter -- when an altercation that included other people began inside Club Rio, on West 38th Street near Gemco Lane.
The altercation spilled into the club's parking lot at about 3 a.m. Jackson told police someone hit him in the mouth, and that a car then struck him in the leg, sending him tumbling onto the car's hood.
At some point in the altercation, Jackson, 28, fired his 9 mm pistol five times, police said. Police said they didn't know whether any of the shots hit the car.
Police said a surveillance video from the club showed the car striking Jackson and then leaving the area. The video also showed at least one shot being fired into the air, authorities said.
The video was not expected to be released to the news media Friday.
Jackson appeared to be slightly injured from the car strike and was limping, but he refused treatment at the scene, Mount said.
"It appears at this time to be a case of self-defense," Indianapolis police Sgt. Matthew Mount said. "We don't know what started the altercation right now, but (someone) did try to run him over with the car."
Police Seek Vehicle, Three Occupants
Police said they were looking for the vehicle that struck Jackson -- described as a blue, two-door, 1980s General Motors car with chrome rims -- and its three occupants.
Police gave the following descriptions of three who were inside the vehicle:
# A bald, stocky black man who goes by the street name "Dino." He is in his early to mid-20s, is between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 8 inches tall, and was wearing a black cap with the letters BB, police said.
# A short, thin black man who goes by the street name "Fingers," has only a thumb and two fingers on each hand and has unusually short arms. He is in his mid-20s, has short hair, and was wearing a sleeveless white T-shirt and dark pants, police said.
# A bald, heavy-set black man in his late 20s to early 30s.
Police said two of the Pacers -- Tinsley and Daniels -- told police they had guns in their vehicles. Jackson and Tinsley had Indiana gun permits and Daniels had a gun permit from Florida, police said.
Authorities said a small amount of marijuana was found in the passenger-side door of Tinsley's car. Officer could not determine to whom the pot belonged, so no arrests were made in connection with the marijuana.
Police said they were trying to determine whether Jackson acted in self-defense, but an initial investigation indicated that he did.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank declined to comment on the specifics of the case but said the league was monitoring the situation.
In a statement released Friday morning, the Pacers said that the players involved in the incident were cooperating with authorities.
"Since this is an ongoing review of the matters that took place Friday morning, the Pacers will have no further comment at this time," the team said.
The Pacers said they would not make the four players available for interviews, citing advice from legal counsel.
Training camp began this week, and the organization has been running commercials promising a fresh start.
"You make the right moves on and off the court. It's up to us to give the fans what they want to see," read a transcript from a portion of a commercial on the team's Web site. "It's up to us."
Jackson joined the Pacers in 2004 and averaged 16 points per game during the 2005-06 season.
The situation was the latest in a string of incidents during Jackson's stay with the Pacers. He was suspended 30 games for his role in a brawl with Detroit Pistons fans at Auburn Hills two seasons ago. Last season, he constantly argued with officials and coach Rick Carlisle and was singled out by team president Larry Bird for his negative attitude.
Bird said in May that the team's players will shape up or play elsewhere next season. He said he was done dealing with bad attitudes, selfishness and laziness.
Carlisle declined Friday to comment on the incident.