Jennifer Jiggetts
The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
Police have a suspect in the shooting after a birthday party at Town Center last month for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, but they're saying little else about the case that has drawn major media attention.
They're not naming the suspect, other than to say it's not Vick.
And prosecutors aren't charging anyone right now.
Commonwealth's Attorney Harvey Bryant said he's had no cooperation from the victim or enough independent evidence to proceed against anyone in the case. He stopped short of agreeing with police that they know who the shooter is and said the investigation is ongoing.
"This matter is not over, hopefully," Bryant said.
"I don't know that they're a danger to the community, but they have committed a serious criminal offense," Bryant said of the shooter. "And that's why I'm hoping anyone who has information that can assist in the arrest and prosecution of this person would certainly come forward."
The Police Department felt compelled, he said, because of public interest in the case, to advise why there were not charges.
Because the suspect will not be charged, his identity cannot be released, Officer Adam Bernstein, a police spokesman, said.
There are no other suspects in the case, including Vick, Bernstein said.
The Eagles and the NFL have said they are investigating the incident.
The shooting happened about 2:10 a.m. June 25, after a 30th birthday party gala for Vick at Guadalajara restaurant. A video showed Vick, a Newport News native who played at Virginia Tech, leaving the affair earlier, said Allen Fabijan, a spokesman for the restaurant.
The person who was shot has not been named by police, but some partygoers said it was Quanis Phillips, Vick's co-defendant in his federal dogfighting case. Vick's lawyer, Larry Woodward, has said Phillips was thrown out of the party.
Phillips, known as "Q," and Vick were integral parts of a dogfighting operation, dubbed Bad Newz Kennels, started in 2001 on land Vick bought in Surry County.
They were convicted in 2007 and 2008 of dogfighting charges connected to the operation.
Phillips cooperated with prosecutors in their case against Vick, signing papers saying the quarterback had helped kill eight pit bulls that performed poorly in fights.
Phillips was released from federal prison in February 2009, after serving 21 months. Vick was released from prison in May that year.
Vick and Phillips are still on state and federal probation from dogfighting convictions. The terms of their probation prohibit them from associating with felons without permission from their probation officers. They also must inform their probation officers within 72 hours of being questioned by police.
Bernstein said he didn't know whether Beach authorities had been in contact with federal probation officers.
Jennifer Jiggetts, (757) 222-5150, jennifer.jiggetts@pilotonline.com
Jen McCaffery, (757) 222-5119, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com
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Where is ADA Jack McCoy when you need him?
Not a suspect
Vick is not a suspect. I hope to see him in the NFL this season playing against my favorite team the Redskins.
It's up to Vick
To decide whether he wants to keep on being a professional athlete or a buddy to some of his friends/thugs he grew up with. If he's smart he'll dump the zero's and straighten out his personal and professional life.
MAYBE HE CAN PLAY MORE THAN 2 MINUTES A GAME HERE AS A STARTER
Do you think he can make our new UFL team as a starter? Maybe he could get more than 2 minutes a game then. If he can make the team anyways.
LEAVE HIM BE
I have met Mike Vick and I wasn't impressed to say the least, however, I am convinced that the powers to be, along with the mainstream media are bent on destroing this guys life. How hard is it to leave the guy alone and allow him to live his life. Truthfully, I wouldn't have had the party unless it was at home and I wouldn't have been out in the wee hours of the morning, but let's be honest, he didn't do anything wrong as we have been told so leave him the heck alone!
I've thought this out pretty
I've thought this out pretty well and I can now say I feel sorry for Michael Vick. The guy grew up in a bad neighborhood and was basically a thug with thug friends who want to be gangsters when they grow up. When he was on the field I think he cut those ties and felt free and played an awesome role. He made it to Tech with a full ride scholarship and then into the NFL. While he was at Tech, I can't recall hearing anything bad about him. I think that's because he got away from the thugs and they didn't have the money to go see him very often. After signing with the NFL and making it to the bigtime, I think he felt powerful and somewhat above the law. He comes back to town to live and guess who he meets. Yep, the thugs are back and the bad thing is...he's too scared to tell them he doesn't want to live that life anymore. When placed in that situation you have two choices: 1.take your stand as a man and do the right thing, or 2.let the thugs take you and all you've achieved right back down with them. Michael, I'd hate to be in your shoes. Good luck!
Seems to me ---
It seems to me you haven't thought anything out, and all you're doing is making excuses for Vick. He was in trouble as a kid, he was in trouble at Tech, and he was in trouble as an adult. See a pattern here? The only thing you did think about was the fact that he figured because he made it to the NFL he was above the law. The only difference between him and the normal street thug is that he had some money. He threw it all away and no one but Vick is to blame. Personally I hope he gets kicked out of the NFL and gives his slot to someone deserving of it.
Felon
Isn't Phillips also a convicted felon on probation? I would think it is a violation of HIS probation to not cooperate with police. What's up the the senior probation officer The federal building not pushing this issue with Phillips.
So...
So by your way of thinking, Vick is no man, he can't do the right thing and he went down with his thug friends.
I don't see how you can feel sorry for him.
I'm channeling Phil Hartman playing Frankenstein on SNL
Crime Bad! Truth Good!