PHILADELPHIA -- Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy is under investigation over an alleged assault of off-duty police officers at a Philadelphia nightclub.
A statement released Monday by Philadelphia police said that two off-duty officers, both 40-year-old black men and members of the city's police department, were injured in a fight with four black men, aged 26 through 30, around 2:45 a.m. Sunday. CSNPhilly.com reported that a third off-duty officer was also involved in the fight.
Police did not identify the four suspects, but a man familiar with the investigation confirmed to ESPN's Mark Schwarz and The Associated Press that McCoy, who played six seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the men under investigation. The man spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to publicly discuss the case. The suspects have not yet been interviewed, police said on Tuesday.
Outside the Lines' John Barr reported Tuesday that McCoy has hired noted Philadelphia defense attorney Jack McMahon to represent him.
When asked if an arrest of McCoy was imminent, McMahon said, "As far as a time frame, I have no idea. Anybody who tells you they do is guessing. If in fact he were to be charged, [McCoy] would obviously turn himself in."
According to the district attorney's office Tuesday, the police have completed their investigation and turned their case over to the district attorney's office, which will review the case for possible charges.
The argument, which, according to multiple reports, took place inside the Recess nightclub in the Old City, began over ownership of a bottle of champagne, according to the police statement. Police said "pushing and shoving" over the bottle led to one of the off-duty officers being knocked to the ground, and while he was on the ground, he was "punched, kicked and stomped about his body and head multiple times by all four suspects."
Another off-duty officer joined with club security to help break up the fight, and "all parties were ejected from the club," police said. The officer knocked to the ground was Roland Butler, according to CSNPhilly.com. He went to a hospital, where he was treated for a cut to his right eye, a broken nose, broken ribs and a sprained thumb. The officer who broke up the fight was also admitted to a hospital, where he received eight stitches over his left eye and was receiving treatment Monday for a possible skull fracture, police said in their statement. A police source tells Schwarz that one of the officers also suffered an orbital fracture.
John McNesby, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, a police union, told Philly.com that the officers "look like they got the brunt of it."
McNesby spoke to Barr on Monday to detail the extent of physical damage to the officers: "This was an all-out beatdown with broken bones and serious injuries. These officers are hurting. They're in pain. These are serious injuries."
McNesby did not get into details about who instigated the physical confrontation, though he defended the officers.
"From what I'm hearing, they were defending themselves," he told Barr. "They were not the instigators."
CSNPhilly.com reported that a total of three off-duty officers -- Darnell Jessie, Butler and Sergeant Daniel Ayres -- were involved, but the police report did not state which two were injured. CSNPhilly.com also reported that former NFL running back Curtis Brinkley and one of McCoy's former teammates at the University of Pittsburgh, wide receiver Tamarcus "T.J." Porter, were among the suspects, as was a fourth man, Christopher Henderson. It's unclear whether McCoy or any of the other suspects were injured in the incident.
According to CSNPhilly.com, the three officers purchased four bottles of champagne, and Porter tried to take one of the bottles from Butler. After an argument broke out, the report states that McCoy, Brinkley and Henderson "assisted [Porter]."
The four suspects, though not named by police in their statement, were "subsequently identified through photographs by complainants and by the security guards," police said. Surveillance cameras showed those involved being ejected outside the club, but the incident inside the club was not captured on video.
When asked specifically about McCoy and his involvement in the fight, McNesby told Barr: "All indications were that he was involved." McNesby said he didn't know the extent of McCoy's involvement and said he would rely on the ongoing investigation to reveal details.
Of McCoy, McNesby told Philly.com: "Maybe he should stay in Buffalo and carry on like an idiot in Buffalo."
McCoy's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not immediately return a message from The Associated Press seeking comment Monday.
The Bills said in a statement Monday that they are aware of the report and are gathering information.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.