Vick not the shooter but charges still linger

Published 2:12 am Wednesday, July 7, 2010

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Police said Tuesday they know who was responsible for shooting another man following Michael Vick’s birthday celebration, but the shooter will not be charged “at this time” because the victim has not cooperated with investigators.

Vick was not the shooter and there are no suspects other than the shooter, police spokesman Adam Bernstein said. The decision not to press charges was made by the prosecutor’s office, but could be reversed if the victim decides to cooperate.

In a statement released Tuesday, police said witnesses have also been reluctant to help in the investigation of the shooting outside a nightclub just after 2 a.m. on June 25. The statement said because the shooter will not be charged, his identity will not be released.

Email newsletter signup

The shooting took place about a block away from the club where a 30th birthday party for the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback was ending. According to a spokesman for the nightclub, video surveillance cameras positioned in front of the club showed Vick climbing into a car and leaving about 4 minutes before the shooting.

The victim has not be identified by the police, but Vick’s attorney, Larry Woodward, said it was Quanis Phillips — a co-defendant in the federal dogfighting case that landed Vick in federal prison. Phillips, who Woodward said was not invited to the party and did not interact with Vick while there, was treated at a hospital.