Pierce to talk to authorities today

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Antonio Pierce is finally going to talk to investigators about what he did on the night Plaxico Burress shot himself.

Pierce and Josyann Abisaab, the doctor who treated Burress after he accidentally shot himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub, will be accompanied by their lawyers when they meet with the authorities Friday, NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Public Information Paul Browne said.

It is unclear when and where the parties will meet.

The authorities are especially interested in why neither Pierce, who drove Burress to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, nor Abisaab called police to report the shooting early Saturday. Abisaab has since been suspended for not reporting the gunshot injury, as required by law.

Michael Bachner, Pierce's attorney, did not immediately return a telephone message Thursday evening, seeking comment on his client's meet- ing.

Police are trying to determine whether Pierce tried to cover up the shooting. They say Pierce returned to New Jersey with Burress' gun in the glove compartment of his black Cadillac Escalade, and investigators have impounded the SUV to search it for any blood or gun residue.

Bachner said Pierce was caught off guard early Saturday when Burress somehow fumbled his gun, a .40-caliber Glock, in the VIP section of a Manhattan nightclub and it discharged, hitting his right thigh.

"He had no idea Plaxico had a weapon," Bachner said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

The attorney stressed that Pierce would cooperate with authorities and testify before a Manhattan grand jury about the incident if asked to testify, which has yet to happen.

"Antonio has always taken a position that he will be cooperative in the investigation with law enforcement," Bachner said. "Should Antonio be subpoenaed to the grand jury, and we have no idea that is going to happen, but if he is, he is going to abide by his obligations as a citizen."