Attorney: Donald was 'protecting' assault accuser during altercation

Aaron Donald's attorney said Friday his client did not attack De'Vincent Spriggs, the person accusing him of assault, but actually saved Spriggs from further harm.

Casey White told 93.7 The Fan that the April 11 incident from which Spriggs' allegations stem began when Spriggs started elbowing Donald at a party at a residence above a Pittsburgh nightclub. Spriggs was removed from the party after becoming "aggressive" and "coming at" Donald, White said, according to Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

White said Spriggs was still outside when Donald left the building and that Spriggs began approaching the Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle with a liquor bottle in hand. White said Spriggs swung the bottle at Donald, grazing his head, and that Spriggs was then "tuned up" by others defending Donald.

Donald was "being restrained" during this time before coming to Spriggs' rescue, according to White.

"Aaron then breaks free from the restraints - and this is all on video, so I'm not making this up - he then goes to the pile where this melee is taking place," White said. "He starts tearing people off, protecting Mr. Spriggs.

"He actually saves Mr. Spriggs from further injury."

White said Donald, 29, did not "cause any trouble" at any point during the altercation. The attorney added he has surveillance video and five witnesses to substantiate his assertions.

Video footage appearing to show Donald attempting to break up the altercation surfaced later Friday:

Spriggs said he suffered a concussion and a broken arm and needed 16 stitches near his eye as a result of the incident. His lawyer, Todd Hollis, said Wednesday that Spriggs intends to file charges with Pittsburgh police.