BATON ROUGE — Police obtained arrest warrants Friday for LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and a teammate, Joshua Johns, on charges of second-degree battery for a bar fight that injured four people last week, and the players have been suspended indefinitely by the school.
Baton Rouge police Sgt. Don Stone said investigators have contacted the players’ attorney, Nathan Fisher, and LSU coach Les Miles, and asked for the players to turn themselves in.
Jefferson and Johns, a linebacker, face felony charges for their purported roles in a fight outside Shady’s bar in Baton Rouge on Aug. 19.
“We will continue to cooperate with the authorities in an effort to find out exactly what took place during the incident,” Miles said. “As sad as this incident is, it’s important that we learn from this and that we take away a valuable lesson. This has weighed on all of us. It’s time for us to come together as a team and focus on what we are here to do.”
Four people were treated and released at a hospital in the hours after the fight, and police have said one person had three fractured vertebrae, injuries serious enough to warrant felony charges.
Two witnesses who work at the bar told The Associated Press that the players did not throw the first punch, but added that once the melee began, it was difficult to see who hit whom, and could not verify the extent to which Jefferson and Johns were involved.
Shady’s door manager Jordan Neldare, who said he witnessed the fight, said he noticed that Jefferson removed himself from the brawl before it was over, and was standing alone near the bar’s entrance, looking upset.
Police have identified Jefferson, Johns, offensive lineman Chris Davenport, and receiver Jarvis Landry as people of interest in the fight.
The four players, who each were interviewed by investigators Tuesday, have hired defense attorney Nathan Fisher, who did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment on the arrest warrants.
On Wednesday, police executed a search warrant of Jefferson’s apartment and took 49 pairs of shoes, along with a DNA swab.
Under team orders, LSU players have not discussed the fight publicly since it happened.
Fourth-ranked LSU opens its season Sept. 3 against No. 3 Oregon in Dallas. Although Johns is a reserve, Jefferson was expected to start.