DP: Police probe shooting at Arrington party

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http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-42100sy0jun29,0,508998.story?coll=dp-sports-local

Police probe shooting at Arrington party

The Redskins linebacker feels 'terrible about the injury to the guard.'

BY MICHAEL C. WRIGHT

247-4759

June 29 2005

Police in Anne Arundel County, Md., are investigating a shooting that injured a security guard at a party hosted by Washington Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington and San Francisco 49ers linebacker Julian Peterson.

James Sidney, 35, of Hyattsville, Md., was shot just before 1 a.m. Sunday when he tried to break up a scuffle, according to Anne Arundel police.

"We still don't have any suspects, and we interviewed the victim (Monday)," said police spokesman Lt. Joe Jordan.

The shooting occurred in a grassy area on the compound which is surrounded by fences and hedges, about 100 feet from the home where Arrington was still inside, according to Jordan.

Police don't believe Arrington was a target or that he was "anywhere near the shooting."

"Peterson was supposed to be there, but we never spoke with him, so we don't know if he really was there," Jordan said.

Arrington rented an 18,000-quare-foot home at 1729 Saddle Drive in Gabrills to host the party with Peterson and a company called True Playaz Entertainment. Agents Carl and Kevin Poston represent Arrington and Peterson, and neither was available for comment.

Peterson attended Crossland High School in Temple Hills, Md., and Arrington is from Pittsburgh.

The party came after a series of charity events hosted by Arrington. He was apologetic about the shooting in a statement released by the Redskins.

"I had no involvement in the incident, and to my knowledge neither did any of the guests at the party," he said. "I feel terrible about the injury to the guard, who was only doing his job, and pray he recovers quickly and fully."

Police responded to neighbors' complaints about loud music on Saturday just before 8 p.m. Jordan says more than 400 people attended the party.

Police returned at midnight after more complaints of loud music.

"One of our officers spoke to a man who identified himself as Arrington," Jordan said. "He was cooperative and said he'd shut down the party."

A scuffle broke out and Sidney was shot about 55 minutes later, with police still there making sure people were leaving the party.

Officers responding to the shooting immediately called for medical assistance and secured the scene because Sidney suffered an unknown number of gunshot wounds.

A Maryland State Police helicopter flew Sidney to the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where he was in serious but stable condition. Sidney requested to Shock Trauma personnel that no further information be released.

Jordan said some people at the party were questioned and later released.

Redskins spokesman Patrick Wixted said the team would have no additional comment.

NOTES

The Redskins signed cornerback Eric Joyce and picked up receiver Jamin Elliott off waivers from the Chicago Bears. The club also released receiver Pedro Holiday and earned an NFL Europe roster expemption for Joyce. ... Hampton Roads residents will soon be able to watch NFL Network on Cox Digital Cable. NFL Network, which is the first channel fully dedicated to the NFL and football, will debut on July 14 on Cox Digital Cable channel 224. The network will televise 55 preseason games during the league's four-week preseason, which is all but the 11 nationally televised preseason games that will be on ABC, CBS, ESPN and FOX. The NFL Network already is available to satellite television subscribers.