According to media reports, this online invitation was posted by Marcus Vick to his brother Michael's 30th birthday party, shortly after which a shooting occurred early Friday.
Report: Vick Co-Defendant Was Shot
Attorney: Vick Neither Involved Nor Present
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - A newspaper reports that, according to sources, the man shot after a Virginia Beach birthday party for Michael Vick early Friday was one of his dog-fighting co-defendants.
Vick's attorney has already come forward with a statement, however, indicating that the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was neither involved nor present at the time of the incident.
Police said a man was shot early shortly after 2 a.m. outside a club called Guadalajara at Town Center, where a 30th birthday party was being thrown Thursday night for Vick.
Virginia Beach Police spokesman Adam Bernstein said a man sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting.
Bernstein said the victim was taken to a hospital. He said the victim and witnesses were uncooperative other than describing the shooter as a black man in a white Cadillac Escalade.
Bernstein said he knew nothing about any connection to Vick's party.
The Hampton Roads Daily Press reported Friday afternoon that sources say the shooting victim is Quanis Phillips, one of the Vick's co-defendants in his 2007 federal dog-fighting trial.
Phillips, like Vick, was sentenced to jail in the case. He was released in February 2009.
The Daily Press said a hospital spokesman confirmed Phillips was admitted there and listed in good condition, although he would not discuss the nature of Phillips' injuries and the patient declined to speak with media.
Vicks' attorney, Larry Woodward, was quoted in the Virginia Pilot as saying, “There was a party for Michael Vick there last night. Michael was not involved in any shooting there. Not only wasn’t he involved, he wasn’t present when any of that happened.”
A restaurant spokesman confirmed to the newspaper that Vick and his brother, Marcus, attended the party and left at 1:55 a.m., adding that the shooting occurred 20 to 25 minutes later.
An invitation to Thursday night's "Michael Vick's All White Birthday Bash" appears online. Some media reports indicate it was Marcus Vick who posted the image earlier this month.
The invitation said a dress code calling for no T-shirts or athletic wear would be strictly enforced. Celebrities expected to attend the party included DeAngelo Hall, LaShawn Merritt, Antwoine Bethea, Pusha-T, Mia Michelle, Delicia Cordon, The De Creme Models and fellow Virginia native and Philadelphia athlete Allen Iverson.
Michael Vick remains on probation after serving prison time for his federal dog-fighting conviction.