Rice video shows punch in casino elevator

Sep 8, 2014 - 12:30 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, currently serving a two-game suspension from the NFL for domestic violence, punched his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City casino elevator.

TMZ.com released video of the actual incident on Monday morning and it shows Rice throwing a left-handed punch at Janay Palmer, now his wife, and knocking her out cold.

Surveillance video released by TMZ.com in February only revealed the aftermath of the incident, with Rice dragging Palmer out of the elevator.

The new video shows Rice and Palmer entering the elevator at the now-closed Revel Hotel and Casino. The two are standing next to each other before a minor shove. Rice then moves away and Palmer rushes toward him before he reacts with a quick left-handed blow.

Though Rice avoided prosecution after he was arrested in February and charged with simple assault-domestic violence, the NFL handed out its two-game penalty for a violation of the league's personal conduct policy.

The length of the suspension drew public backlash and forced the league to amend its policy on domestic violence. First-time offenders are now suspended six weeks with a lifetime ban after a second such offense.

Rice offered an apology in May and did so again in July at the start of the Ravens' training camp, calling his actions that night "totally inexcusable."

In May, Rice was accepted into a pretrial intervention program that allowed him to avert prosecution and avoid serving any time in jail. The charges against him will be expunged from his record upon successful completion of the one-year program.

Rice played in 15 games last season and tallied 660 yards with four touchdowns on 214 carries while adding 321 yards receiving. Over his career, the three- time Pro Bowl selection has rushed for 6,180 yards and 37 touchdowns and caught 369 passes for 3,034 yards and six scores.