Ray Rice
Atlantic City police reportedly possess a video of the exact moment that Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice allegedly knocked fiancée Janay Palmer unconscious. Wikipedia Commons

Police have obtained a piece of evidence related to Baltimore Ravens star Ray Rice’s ongoing assault investigation that could have severe implications for whether or not he faces criminal charges.

A source close to the investigation told Sports Illustrated that police have a video in which Rice allegedly knocks his fiancée unconscious at an Atlantic City casino. Authorities have yet to release the footage to the public.

Rumors regarding the existence of the potentially incriminating video surfaced just days after TMZ obtained surveillance footage in which Rice can be seen carrying his unconscious fiancée out of an elevator. In that video, which was reportedly shot just moments after the domestic incident took place, Rice attempted to rouse his unresponsive partner, only to be confronted by an individual who appeared to be a member of the casino’s security staff.

In an interview with TMZ, one of Rice’s legal representatives stated that “neither Ray nor myself will try this case in the media.”

“However, the [initial video] that’s being posted by TMZ Sports is not the complete event, but is merely the end result of what transpired,” he said. “We’ll assure the public that when this matter is fully tried and completed, you’ll have a better understanding of what happened, and we ask the public to reserve making any judgment until all of the facts come out.”

Rice and his fiancée, Janay Palmer, were arrested last Saturday on charges of domestic assault, TMZ reported. A court summons later confirmed that Rice stood accused of knocking Palmer unconscious by "striking her with his hand."

They were booked and released later that day, and each refused medical attention. Ravens officials later told USA Today that Rice and Palmer “returned home together after being detained.”

“After reviewing surveillance footage it appeared both parties were involved in a physical altercation,” Atlantic City police said in a statement. “The complaint summons indicates that both Rice and Palmer struck each other with their hands.”

In 2012, Rice signed a five-year, $35 million contact with the Ravens, Sports Illustrated reports. If Baltimore cuts Rice, they’d lose $14 million against next season’s salary cap.