Police to investigate NFL player further

Prosecutors have asked Las Vegas police to further investigate NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones, accused of starting a brawl in a strip club that ended with three people being shot, including a bouncer who is now paralyzed from the waist down.

Authorities said the investigation could result in additional charges being recommended against the 23-year-old Tennessee Titans cornerback, who police say incited the fight inside the Minxx club Feb 19.

Police are "continuing the investigation to see where it takes them," said officer Bill Cassell, a department spokesman.

A prosecutor met with detectives last week to review the case, and they agreed to continue the investigation, officials said.

Lt. George Castro with the violent crime unit wouldn't say what authorities are specifically looking into, but noted that Jones could face more charges. Castro said it's typical that police will continue working with the district attorney's office after a case has been submitted to prosecutors.

Last week, police recommended that Jones face misdemeanor battery, misdemeanor threats to life and felony coercion charges.

The incident occurred just before dawn as the NBA All-Star weekend was winding down. The fight started after Cornelius Haynes Jr., better known as the rapper Nelly, threw hundreds of dollars of Jones' money onto a stripper stage for visual effect, police said. Jones became angry when strippers started taking the money, and he then got into a fight with a bouncer, police said.

Jones faces the felony coercion charge for punching a bouncer, which prevented the club employee from "protecting citizens, employees and property," police said.

A gunman opened fire in the parking lot moments after Jones was ejected from the club, striking three people with gunfire.

Police haven't arrested or publicly identified the person responsible for the shooting.

District Attorney David Roger also wouldn't comment on the investigation, but noted, "You have to cross your T's and dot your I's in order to have a lock-tight prosecution."

Cassell said the ongoing investigation doesn't mean the district attorney's office thought the current case against Jones was inadequate.

"This is not a situation where Metro and the district attorney are arguing back and forth. They sat down and looked at the best way to go forward," he said.

Worrick Robinson, Jones' attorney, wouldn't comment on the ongoing investigation.

"We're going to watch and listen," he said, adding that he "didn't read anything into" the fact police were continuing their investigation.

Since being drafted by the Titans in April 2005, Jones has been arrested five times and questioned by police in 10 episodes.

He met Tuesday in New York with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss those cases. Goodell has said he will announce his decision on suspensions or other disciplinary action within the next 10 days.

Jones has not commented publicly since the Las Vegas incident, and his attorney has said he will make the cornerback available once his legal issues have been settled. But Jones spoke with the NFL Network about his meeting with Goodell.

"I just explained myself and told him nothing but the truth you know," Jones said in the interview. "He asked me like, 'How can we help you?' You know? How can he help me? What can I do to change my image? So it's on me."

Police last week also recommended that misdemeanor and felony charges be brought against two of Jones' friends who were with him at Minxx.

Police recommended that 37-year-old Robert Reid, of Carson, Calif., be charged with misdemeanor battery and one felony count of coercion, and 25-year-old Sadia Morrison, of New York City, should be charged with one felony coercion count in addition to felony battery with a deadly weapon.

Police accused Morrison of hitting a bouncer over the head with a champagne bottle during the melee.

The shooting at the club and bouncer Tom Urbanski's recovery still resonates with the community more than a month after the shooting. On Wednesday afternoon, NFL player Kyle Turley sponsored a fundraiser for Urbanski at the Minxx.

About 30 people attended the event in the club's parking lot. Some people, like Jerry Burkett, didn't know Urbanski personally but wanted to show his support for the paralyzed bouncer.

"We figured it's a good cause and we're into that," said Burkett, who attended the fundraiser with several coworkers.

Turley, who is friends with one of owners of Minxx, said Jones' behavior off the field has sullied the reputation of many NFL players. The fundraiser was held in part to "make amends" and "resurrect the good name of the majority of players" in the NFL, said Turley, who has played with the New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs.

"They act like a bunch of idiots, and the rest of us have to pay the price when we walk around in public, because everyone out there thinks we're just like them," Turley said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.