The 26-year-old Tempe man arrested in the murder of former ASU wide receiver Tyrice Thompson has been released from jail.
Ian MacDonald, a former Marine who had a "top security clearance" -- at least, according to his lawyer -- is accused of stabbing Thompson outside the Martini Ranch bar in Scottsdale, where Thompson was a bouncer, on January 27. Thompson died a few days later.
See also:
-Ian MacDonald Pleads Not Guilty in Scottsdale Stabbing Death of Tyrice Thompson
-Ian MacDonald's Bond Set at $75,000 in Scottsdale Stabbing Death of Tyrice Thompson
-Ian MacDonald's Lawyer: Cops Have "Exactly Nothing"
-Ian MacDonald Arrested in Scottsdale Murder of Tyrice Thompson
Scottsdale police had requested a $1 million bond for MacDonald, which is a typical number in a murder case.
At a release hearing, a prosecutor offered a lower number for bond, citing the facts of the case, and the judge said that she took into account MacDonald's military service when decided his bond -- $75,000.
MacDonald was able to post that bond, and was released from jail late last week.
Not long after that, he was on 12 News to plead his innocence.
There's not too much to what he said, though, as his lawyer -- who came to the TV interview with him -- advised him not to answer any questions about the stabbing.
Scottsdale police have said that three people said MacDonald admitted to stabbing Thompson. An attorney who initially represented MacDonald claimed police had "exactly nothing" against him.
MacDonald had blood on his shirt, but a "preliminary" DNA test showed the blood was not Thompson's, according to court documents previously obtained by New Times.
Although four of Martini Ranch's employees were outside at the time, none of them saw the actual stabbing, according to a probable-cause statement. Two of them, who had just escorted MacDonald and his girlfriend out of Martini Ranch, left them in the parking lot to deal with another "disturbance" out there. The other two saw MacDonald, his girlfriend, and Thompson apparently brawling outside, but by the time they got over to them, Thompson already had been stabbed.
Thompson was stabbed eight times and died a few days after the January 27 attack. He never regained consciousness after being stabbed and was unable to tell police who did it.
MacDonald and his girlfriend denied any involvement in the stabbing, but police found other details.
"It should be noted that [MacDonald] was the [first] 911 caller who advised that his girlfriend has been stabbed in the face by a bouncer who took off running," the probable-cause statement says.
MacDonald's girlfriend, 22-year-old Samantha King, was not stabbed in the face.
A probable-cause statement cites three anonymous acquaintances of MacDonald who said MacDonald admitted to them he had the knife and stabbed Thompson. All three acquaintances told police that MacDonald said he'd chucked the knife in a dumpster in Mesa. One person said MacDonald admitted to putting the knife in a Ziploc bag of liquid bleach before tossing it in the dumpster.
MacDonald faces a second-degree murder charge, and King was arrested on charges of assault and hindering prosecution.
MacDonald's next court date is scheduled for April 8.
