Newly released photos provide more details about the injuries a woman claims to have sustained from a bite by Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua earlier this year.
The photos, made public by Madison Atiabi’s attorney, Joseph Kerr, show a color version of a black-and-white image previously submitted as part of a request for a restraining order against Nacua in March.
The clearer image displays prominent bite marks, indicating that the injury may be deeper than what was visible in the earlier black-and-white version.
Kerr shared that, following the incident, Atiabi had to receive a tetanus shot. “You might not realize it, but the mouth harbors a lot of bacteria,” he noted.
He added that Atiabi is experiencing significant emotional distress and is currently undergoing treatment.
The bite incident reportedly took place on New Year’s Eve while Atiabi and Nacua were out in Los Angeles with mutual friends. Nacua supposedly grabbed Atiabi’s shoulder as they were moving to another location in the van after dinner.
Nacua, through a representative, acknowledged the bite but maintained it was all in good fun. Conversely, Kerr and Atiabi refuted this, accusing Nacua of assault, battery, and negligence. By mid-April, they withdrew their restraining order request to concentrate on their lawsuit instead.
The civil case is still ongoing. Meanwhile, authorities investigated the incident, initially viewing it as a possible misdemeanor. However, in May, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office indicated that the situation would be handled through a pre-filing diversion instead of criminal prosecution.
Nacua entered a rehabilitation facility shortly after meeting Atiabi and has commented on his growth from the remorseful experience and subsequent therapy.
