Plaxico Burris Indicted on Gun Charges
Last Updated 2:48 p.m. ET.
Former New York Giants star Plaxico Burress was indicted by a grand jury on weapons charges after shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan night club last winter, prosecutors announced Monday.
The indictment charged the 31-year-old Burress with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.
Burress' former teammate, Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, was not indicted for his role in the incident.
"A grand jury applied the law to the facts of this case," Morgenthau said.
No one else is likely to face charges in the case, Morgenthau said. He said some of the others involved in the incident "showed first-degree bad judgement," but their actions didn't rise to the level of a crime.
Burress was at the Latin Quarter nightclub Nov. 29 when he shot himself in the thigh after a gun tucked in the waist of his track pants slipped down his leg and fired. Authorities say Pierce, who was with Burress at the club, drove his then-teammate to the hospital and took the gun to Burress' home in Totowa, N.J.
The gun was not licensed. No one called police to report the gunshot wound, as required by law - not the players, nor NFL officials, nor the hospital where Burress was treated.
Both Burress and Pierce testified before the grand jury last week. Burress told reporters then that he was sorry for his actions.
"I was truthful, I was honest, and I'm truly remorseful for what I've done and for what happened," Burress said.
CBS Station WCBS reports that Burress faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison.
He pleaded not guilty to weapons charges earlier this year and is free on $100,000 bail.
Burress also could face disciplinary action by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell under the league's personal conduct policy. Goodell's office announced in June that the league already had started its examination of the shooting.
The 6-foot-5 receiver from Michigan State played five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before being signed by the New York Giants in March 2005.
Burress, who caught the winning touchdown in the Giants' Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots in 2008 (left), was released from the team in April. His legal problems have kept NFL teams from going after the talented receiver.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Former New York Giants star Plaxico Burress was indicted by a grand jury on weapons charges after shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan night club last winter, prosecutors announced Monday.
The indictment charged the 31-year-old Burress with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.
Burress' former teammate, Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, was not indicted for his role in the incident.
"A grand jury applied the law to the facts of this case," Morgenthau said.
No one else is likely to face charges in the case, Morgenthau said. He said some of the others involved in the incident "showed first-degree bad judgement," but their actions didn't rise to the level of a crime.
Burress was at the Latin Quarter nightclub Nov. 29 when he shot himself in the thigh after a gun tucked in the waist of his track pants slipped down his leg and fired. Authorities say Pierce, who was with Burress at the club, drove his then-teammate to the hospital and took the gun to Burress' home in Totowa, N.J.
The gun was not licensed. No one called police to report the gunshot wound, as required by law - not the players, nor NFL officials, nor the hospital where Burress was treated.
Both Burress and Pierce testified before the grand jury last week. Burress told reporters then that he was sorry for his actions.
"I was truthful, I was honest, and I'm truly remorseful for what I've done and for what happened," Burress said.
CBS Station WCBS reports that Burress faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison.
He pleaded not guilty to weapons charges earlier this year and is free on $100,000 bail.
Burress also could face disciplinary action by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell under the league's personal conduct policy. Goodell's office announced in June that the league already had started its examination of the shooting.
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Burress, who caught the winning touchdown in the Giants' Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots in 2008 (left), was released from the team in April. His legal problems have kept NFL teams from going after the talented receiver.
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The NFL will give him an even stiffer penalty. These prima donnas just never seem to get it.
But this IDIOT took his gun into a night club, where he no doubt intended to consume alcoholic beverages. NO DRUNK SHOULD EVER BE ALLOWED TO CARRY A GUN IN ANY PUBLIC PLACE.
The law is not at fault here, the imbecile who stuck a loaded gun into his sweatpants is at fault. What a complete moron!
Every gun lover who "defends" this moron is even more stupid than he.
OUCH THAT REALLY HURT, (1sec, 2sec) , BUT I'M OVER IT NOW!!! :)
"Laws that shouldn't exist should be broken."
Spoken like a true anarchist!
Someday, somewhere, some jail waits for you.
Justice in America is bought and I'm sure Plaxico can buy his way to a small amount of time in jail.