Police Seize Weapons, Ammo, Sneakers From Plaxico Burress' Home

TOTOWA, N.J. — The bloody pants that Plaxico Burress wore when he accidentally shot himself last month, plus a handgun, a rifle and an assortment of ammunition were seized Tuesday by authorities from the home of the New York Giants receiver.

In addition to a 9-mm handgun, a .30-06-caliber rifle and the ammunition, including a clip for a .45 gun, police also said they recovered the sneakers that Burress wore during the accidental shooting during the three-hour search of the Super Bowl star's Totowa home.

Investigators are trying to determine whether the weapons are registered, so it is unclear whether Burress will face additional charges.

Totowa police chief Robert Coyle said it would is hard to successfully prosecute someone if they have legally registered weapons in one state and stored them in New Jersey.

Burress still faces two felony gun-possession charges following the accidental shooting at a Manhattan nightclub last month.

Benjamin Brafman, the receiver's criminal attorney, said Wednesday morning that he believed that only a registered rifle was taken from the home. He did not know whether Burress would face additional charges.

"We have not had a chance to review this new information," Brafman said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday morning. "When we do, we will have additional comment."

Burress was not at home during the search by Totowa police, four New York City detectives and a Brafman associate, Coyle said, adding the player's wife was present.

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Brafman said his client was out of town but did not elaborate.

The New York Post reported that authorities discovered a suitcase full of money, but Coyle said that was not true.

Burress accidentally shot himself in the right thigh at the Latin Quarter nightclub on Nov. 29 when he fumbled with an unlicensed handgun tucked into the waistband of his sweat pants. He checked himself into New York-Cornell Hospital and later turned himself in to police.

The Giants suspended Burress for the rest of the season and also withheld $1 million owed to him as part of his signing bonus.

Burress is due back in court March 31 and faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison on each count.

Burress was also sued last week in Florida's Broward County Circuit Court for rear-ending a woman in May while driving his nearly $140,000 Mercedes-Benz.

According to a document provided by the woman's attorney, his car insurance lapsed three days before the crash. A letter from Allstate says Burress neglected to pay his premiums.

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Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this report.

Comments

[BaileyWo]

They were alright with the guns and ammo until they found the sneakers. Then they realized he might be plotting against the president.

[lisakaz2]

I wonder why the NRA isn't defending him...

Plax, step away from the ammo!

[MizK]

Where are the smart players in the NFL?? Why can't we hear about them? There needs to be some type of "halfway" house for NFL athletes (or pro jocks of ALL sports) that gives them the rundown of what you can or cannot do....geeeeeesh!!!

[sandiaview]

Bad attorney, horrible attorney...New Jersey folks if this attorney did not advise this man about New Jersey laws about guns in your private residence and he is charged, then Burress should fire him, the attorney should be disbarred for malpractice and all potential clients should drop him from their roledex. Talk about worthless piece of money sucking legal help, wow!

[UnknownSoldier]

I think his wife is an attorney

[UnknownSoldier]

And Brafman is one of the best attorneys in the country

[sandiaview]

Talking about piling on! You already are condemning his career, livelihood and everything else for a man who shot himself. Stupid,yes! Dangerous, yes! Self-destructive, definitely! But where is the raid on all these Wall Street criminals who will cause more premature deaths than we will ever be able to count. Black man with a gun is sooooo dangerous! Or the gangsters that are out on parole or probation and may have guns that they will actually use.

[stemcellgum]

Geez, "weapons, ammo, sneakers", what next -- Michael Vick's dogs?

[swanie]

I carry a .40 in my pocket every time I leave my house. I do have a CCW permit.
.

[DoctorWhoDat]

I can understand the confiscation of his sneakers. They are dangerous weapons. Looks like he'll be playing for the Cowboys next season.

[lisakaz2]

Only to Booo$h.

[madtom]

A $140,000 Mercedes Benz, and no liability insurance?

He should be disqualified from life itself for blatantly excessive stupidity and irresponsibility.

Pro sports leagues ought to assign paid keepers to idiots like this.

And I sure wish we paid nurses, teachers, and police as much as these fools make.

How does this guy manage to walk and chew gum at the same time?

[postman606]

The fact that he started this slide by taking a hangun to a drinking establishment tells me all I need to know.

[UnknownSoldier]

2nd Amendment right to possess arms in your OWN home, not in a night club, not in a car on the public roads, but your OWN home.

Guns are not illegal

[SabrinaFair]

True. But you must follow the law.

[UnknownSoldier]

Sabrina if someone broke into your home and a gun fell from the sky into your hand and you used it. Under the current law, you would be guilty of a crime, the same crime the gov't is looking to charge Plaxico with. POSSESSION of an illegal weapon.

Now if you think that makes any sense, then you are just as smart as our lawmakers.

It is simple either we can own guns or we can't, all of this extra stuff in the middle is just a waste of time and money.

[Big0725]

The second Amendment says nothing about possessing a firearm in your on home. Only stipulation it makes is that of a well formed militia. Now, if you live in a National Guard armory, then you have a point.

[JackiChan]

This is why we don't carry firearms tucked in our pants... Can anyone say HOLSTER?!

[chevyval]

Men and their guns. Yawn.

[SabrinaFair]

They should have given him a CAT scan too while they were there.

Plax is one of the stupidest individuals alive.

[Brothaman2k]

If these weapons are legally owned and purchased then this case is BS.

[RedKnuckles]

Big if....we'll see. I would bet Dollars to Donuts that he's got some unregistered ones.

[SabrinaFair]

The law in NYS is that if you have a weapon, whether it was legally purchased or not, you must have a permit. Either to carry or to have in your home. Period.

If you shoot an intruder with an unlicensed handgun in your home in the great state of NY, it is up to the district or county attorney's discretion as to whether or not to charge you. If the perpetrator dies, they may not charge you with murder, however they can charge you with illegal possession of a handgun. Yes, even if it is in your home.

[UnknownSoldier]

wouldn't you say that those laws are in conflict with a persons absolute RIGHT to self preservation.

Meaning that if you had not killed the intruder in your own home, you would more than likely be dead yourself.

I am not a gun nut, but I draw the line at the HOME. If a person wants to own a gun in their home, and the gun never leaves the home. I would argue that the 2nd Amendment protects the person from the gov't. i.e. the prosecutor/ District Attorney.

[SabrinaFair]

In the state of NY, it does not matter if these weapons were purchased legally. If they are not licensed then he can be charged.

In NY state if an intruder breaks into your home and you use an unlicensed weapon against him, you can be charged not only with murder but with weapons charges. The district or county prosecutor will likely drop the murder charges but the weapons charges they will absolutely prosecute.

[UnknownSoldier]

Totawa is in NJ