Ian MacDonald Was "Pissed" Before Stabbing of Tyrice Thompson, Witness Tells New Times

Scottsdale PD

Ian MacDonald

Ian MacDonald, the man accused of fatally stabbing former ASU wide receiver Tyrice Thompson outside a Scottsdale bar in late January, was "pissed" and "acting like a dick" before the stabbing, a witness tells New Times.

That source, who was at the Martini Ranch bar with MacDonald's group that night, agreed to give us the details under the condition of anonymity.

See also:
-Ian MacDonald, Man Charged in Scottsdale Stabbing Death of Tyrice Thompson, Posts Bond
-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

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 and was never able to identify who stabbed him.

Scottsdale police have said that three people said MacDonald admitted to stabbing Thompson, but it doesn't appear that anyone actually saw the stabbing.

One person said MacDonald had asked for help getting rid of the knife after the stabbing, and the other two told police that MacDonald admitted he'd chucked it in a dumpster in Mesa.

Our source, like everyone cited in information submitted to county court, didn't see Thompson get stabbed.

"I was in the room where Ian had an altercation [with another group of bar-goers] and saw Thompson and another [bouncer] escort him out and he was flailing, being a dick," our source says. "Screaming, yelling obscenities. Then me and others in the group left five [minutes] later, and when I exited I saw Thompson writhing on the ground holding his stomach and his shirt came up and I saw five holes where he was beginning to bleed out."

Paramedics hadn't yet arrived, but Thompson was nowhere to be found, our source says.

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.

Before getting kicked out, MacDonald apparently had gotten into an argument with another group at the bar, and our source describes him as being "pissed, shaking" at that time.

MacDonald posted his $75,000 bond last week, and was released from jail while he awaits trial on his second-degree murder charge.