honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 9:46 a.m., Saturday, December 13, 2008

NFL: Plaxico Burress appears at NYC charity event

By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

Giants receiver Plaxico Burress attended a charity fundraiser for the homeless at a New York City nightclub two weeks after accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh.

Burress arrived at Kevin Powell's 8th Annual Holiday Party and Clothing Drive at the Madison nightclub around 8:45 p.m. on Friday with his wife, Tiffany, and son, Elijah.

The suspended Super Bowl hero refused to discuss the Nov. 29 shooting at the Latin Quarter nightclub that led to criminal possession of a weapon charges and his suspension for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs for conduct detrimental to the team.

"I'm just here to support this event, it's a great event, and I thought it'd be a great chance to get my wife out, and my son out, and support such a great event where it helps kids, homeless kids," Burress said in a transcript provided by WNBC-TV of New York City. "This is a wonderful thing for us to come out and be able to help people and we can lend a helping hand. I have a child, I have a son, I couldn't imagine him being in that situation, so that's why I brought him also."

Burress talked about the event when asked if he was remorseful in the wake of the shooting or was thinking about his teammates.

Benjamin Brafman, Burress' attorney, did not immediately return a telephone call by The Associated Press seeking comment on his client's appearance, which is believed to be his first since being arraigned on illegal gun possession charges on Dec. 1.

Burress shot himself at the Latin Quarter when he accidentally pulled the trigger on the .40-caliber Glock that was in his pants after fumbling a drink.

Teammate Antonio Pierce took the 31-year-old who caught the game-winning pass in the Super Bowl to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center for treatment.

The hospital suspended the doctor who treated Burress for failing to report the shooting to police.

Pierce, the Giants middle linebacker, also was questioned by police a week after the shooting for failing to report the incident, and his decision to bring the gun back to New Jersey after leaving the hospital.

Police say Pierce gave the gun to Burress' wife after returning home.

Burress pleaded not guilty and was released on $100,000 bail. He is due back in court March 31.