By BRETT MARTEL, AP Sports Writer
BATON ROUGE, La. - Police obtained arrest warrants today 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 alleged 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."
A police report says a 19-year-old woman named Victoria Long said she witnessed several LSU players beating one of the alleged victims and saw Jefferson kick that man in the face.
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.
Now fellow senior Jarrett Lee is the likely starter, with sophomore Zach Mettenberger, a junior college transfer, next in line.
Jefferson, a senior, guided LSU to an 11-2 record last season. He is 20-7 as a starter, but the team ranked last in passing in the Southeastern Conference last season, with 155.6 yards per game.
Still, LSU has numerous key players returning and was expected to compete for Southeastern Conference and national championships this season.
The team's success now will ride on how the players are able to regroup from a series of setbacks this offseason, one of which occurred Thursday when LSU suspended starting wide receiver Russell Shepard for violating school and NCAA codes that pertain to discussing NCAA inquiries with teammates who are also scheduled to be interviewed on the same matter.
LSU plans to apply for Shepard's reinstatement, but it is unclear how long that will take. The receiver will miss at least the opener and possibly more games.
Shepard had been interviewed about the NCAA's ongoing investigation into the relationship that scouting services provider and purported street agent Willie Lyles has had with a number of college football programs, including both LSU and Oregon.
Earlier this summer, Steve Kragthorpe, who was hired after last season as the Tigers' new offensive coordinator, announced he had Parkinson's disease. He has remained on staff as quarterbacks coach, but relinquished offensive coordinator duties. Miles has since promoted offensive line coach Greg Studrawa to fill that void.