According to a police report released Thursday, three months before San Francisco 49er Ray McDonald's arrest on suspicion of domestic violence, authorities rushed to his home after a woman supposedly brandished a gun in an argument with her fiancé.
The report refers to an engaged couple living at the Bentley Ridge Drive home, where McDonald lives with his fiancé. However, it does not name either McDonald or the woman. No arrests were made and, according to the report, the woman did not make any threats and vacated the premises when the man said he was going to call police.
Legal experts speculate that this earlier incident may explain why prosecutors have not charged McDonald since his arrest on Aug. 31.
"The prior police call opens up the issue of self-defense, that he was afraid of her in August because she pulled a gun on him in May, and grabbed her to just try and contain her," Santa Clara defense attorney Dan Jensen said. "It's a defense attorney's dream. Her whole history of aggression, if there is one, becomes admissible because of that May incident."
The report has created public debate on social media with speculation surrounding the motivations of both parties involved. According to the report, the couple were arguing around 8 p.m. when the woman "became upset," and picked up a handgun registered to the man but only "held it at her side." After stating that he was going to call 911, the report says that the woman "put the firearm away and fled without incident."
"The release of this information was strictly as a result of the requests we were getting from various media outlets," Officer Albert Morales said. "It has nothing to do with the ongoing investigation. We will continue to be fair and impartial about the way we conduct this investigation."
McDonald was arrested back in August. Following his arrest, police released a three-sentence summary that stated that his pregnant fiancée had "visible injuries."
McDonald, unlike NFL stars Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy, will continue to play as of now, according to 48ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
