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May 14--Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver James Hardy allegedly confronted his father with a gun during an argument last Sunday, according to the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette, which based its report on a police report filed last Sunday.
No charges have been filed and police told the paper they have no plans to pursue the matter any further. Hardy, the Bills' second-round draft pick, received a permit to carry a firearm last year, the paper said.
The Bills are aware of the incident and released the following statement Tuesday:
"We have spoken to law enforcement officials and they have informed us that they looked into this and have no plans to pursue the matter any further. We also spoke to James last night and will continue to speak with him [Tuesday], but indications are that this matter has been resolved."
Hardy also released a statement, saying he regrets the negative attention brought on by the incident.
"I realize what the public perception could be pertaining to this incident, however that was not the reality of the situation," he said. "This situation that has been blown out of proportion has been very hurtful and frustrating for me and my father. There was a misunderstanding and a misinterpretation of the situation. I would like to first apologize to the fans of Buffalo and the Bills organization for any distractions this may have caused.
"I would also like to apologize to my fans in Indiana and the children who look up to me because it has been hard on me and I know it's been equally hard on them to hear something of this nature. I do understand that this opportunity with me being drafted by the Buffalo Bills is a blessing and a privilege and not a right. So I ask that my fans just continue to keep me in your prayers and I will continue to strive to be the best I can be on and off the field."
The Journal Gazette said officers were called to a home in the 2900 block of Weisser Park Avenue in Fort Wayne just before 1:30 p. m. Sunday by a woman who said a man was fighting with his father in her backyard.
The father was identified as James W. Hardy II, according to the police report. The son, listed as a suspect with his name blacked out on the report, was identified in police dispatch logs as 21-year-old James Hardy, the paper said.
The names of possible suspects are routinely blacked out of police reports provided to the public or media. Police confirmed the younger Hardy was involved. The female witness told police she yelled at the younger Hardy to stop fighting when he pulled out a gun. Hardy left the home before police arrived.
The elder Hardy acknowledged to police that he and his son argued, but said his son didn't do anything physical. The father said the younger Hardy is frequently angry with him because he was in prison while his son was a boy, the report said.
"Me and my son's relationship is fine and anything [different] is not factual. Me and James' relationship is fine," the elder Hardy told the Journal Gazette on Monday.
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