Tyrice Thompson, Martini Ranch bouncer and former ASU receiver, dies after stabbing, police say

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Police say a bouncer who was stabbed a week ago at a Scottsdale nightclub has died due to his injuries.

The stabbing happened just after 1 a.m. on Jan. 27 at Martini Ranch near Scottsdale and Camelback roads.

The bouncer, 27-year-old Tyrice Thompson of Laveen, was stabbed five times in the back, hip, and arm after an altercation inside the club, Scottsdale police said.

He was transported to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. 

He died around 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning, according to Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark.

Tyrice's dad Richard Thompson told ABC15, "There's no way to be OK. You have to try to accept it, and when you look at a child, a young man at 27-years-old, and to go like that, it's awful."

Thompson was a member of the Arizona State Football team. He played tight end and wide receiver at his time at ASU from 2003 to 2007.

Everyone at the scene last weekend, including the other security personnel, couldn't identify who stabbed Thompson, police said.

A knife was not found at the scene, so everyone was reportedly released.

Thompson was unable to speak to police at the hospital before his death and couldn't identify the suspect, police said.

Detectives then conducted follow-up interviews and watched security footage of the incident, which led them to believe the stabber was 26-year-old Ian MacDonald of Tempe, police said.

MacDonald was arrested at his work on Tuesday.

He admitted to fighting with the bouncers but denied stabbing Thompson, police said.

He was released pending further investigation.