With the LSU football season opener against Oregon just 10 days away, the investigation into the incident at Shady’s Bar last Friday could come down to the wire.
Sgt. Don Stone, Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman, said the investigation could last up to 7 to 10 more days and was confident the investigation would lead to an arrest.
“We have physical evidence. We have people that have been beaten, and we have a medical report,” Stone said. “If the evidence supports the allegations made against these four individuals – the football players – or anyone else that may come up, someone will be charged.”
The four LSU players connected with the incident met with investigators Tuesday morning, but none were arrested, according to BRPD.
Senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson, freshman wide receiver Jarvis Landry, sophomore linebacker Josh Johns and sophomore offensive lineman Chris Davenport all met with police downtown, received their Miranda rights and gave statements about the altercation.
Stone said up to 12 additional witnesses, including more LSU football players, will be asked to speak with investigators soon.
“The four football players were there providing us with some additional information and additional persons to talk to,” Stone said. “Some of those are LSU football players.”
BRPD Chief of Police Dewayne White said the department has received contradicting stories between the two parties, which has slowed the process.
“We have conflicting statements that support one version over the version of the LSU players,” White said. “What we don’t have is a version of an objective third party that has absolutely no ties to either party involved in this incident.”
BRPD obtained security camera footage from a business near Shady’s, but told reporters it did not capture the event on tape. White declined to elaborate on what the footage showed.
White said the injuries to one victim included three broken vertebrae and another suffered contusions on the head, nose and both his left and right hand.
White dispelled the rumor that the incident stemmed from a racial slur.
LSU coach Les Miles said the team will continue to aid police in the investigation.
“We certainly want to do justice to any ongoing investigation and make sure our team understands the severity of the issue,” Miles said. “I think there is a lot of work that they need to do and a number of people they need to interview.”
Miles also said if he had “fundamentally defined” information on the issue, he would enforce his own punishments on players.
Nathan Fisher, an attorney representing the four players, said the questioning lasted between two and three hours, and called the meeting “congenial.”
“Everybody was courteous. We’re going to continue talking to people and find evidence,” Fisher said. “We’ll be glad to share that with the city police. We’re not holding back anything.”