Man who accused Rams' Aaron Donald of assault backpedals on claim, offers apology

De'Vincent Spriggs, the man who accused Los Angeles Rams star defensive lineman Aaron Donald of assaulting him, offered a public apology on Saturday through his attorney — taking back his claim from last Sunday. 

Spriggs' attorney, Todd Hollis, issued a statement noting that Spriggs mistook Donald during a fight on Pittsburgh's South Side. 

The statement read: “I wanted to make this statement public. And to extend an apology to Aaron for what he’s gone through, but I clearly know this was not him." 

The 26-year-old Spriggs filed a criminal complaint on Sunday with the Pittsburgh police, according to Hollis. Spriggs provided an initial account of the alleged attack during which he suffered 16 stiches to the head, a broken eye socket, a broken nose, a sprained or broken arm and a concussion during. He initially claimed he was assaulted by Donald and several others. 

Donald’s lawyer, Casey White, appeared on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh on Friday morning and denied the claims against his client, citing surveillance video. White said Donald actually helped his accuser and saved him from further injury.

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“He actually saved Mr. Spriggs from further injury,” White said. “It’s fantastic, from a defense attorney’s perspective.”

White said Spriggs was intoxicated and initiated the altercation in an alleyway — first throwing a bottle at Donald's head — when several of Donald's supporters were defending Donald in attacking Spriggs. 

"(Spriggs) does get punched, he does get slammed, he does get kicked in the head," White detailed. "It’s violent, but the whole time, Mr. Donald, Aaron is being restrained.”

Hollis initially said before the surveillance video went public that he spoke to witnesses who corroborated details of the incident that allegedly took place at about 3 a.m. Sunday at a nightclub on East Carson Street in Pittsburgh's South Side.

“(Spriggs) was in the nightclub and he accidentally bumped into Mr. Donald,’’ Hollis told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. “Mr. Donald believed that he (Spriggs) bumped into him very hard. Mr. Spriggs apologized. That didn’t satisfy Mr. Donald. There was an incident that followed. 

"The young men were asked to leave the club. Both did. After my client exited the club, he attempted to leave. He was stopped by Mr. Donald, allegedly punched by Mr. Donald in concert with other individuals that were part of Mr. Donald’s group."

Hollis said Spriggs was taken by a friend to a hospital for treatment and Hollis released a photo that showed Spriggs with facial injuries and swelling.

Contributing: Josh Peter