Lawyer: Ex-FSU QB De'Andre Johnson provoked with racial slur, knee to groin

De'Andre Johnson's attorney says that the former Florida State quarterback was not the initial aggressor in the altercation that led him to punch a woman.

After surveillance footage was released by the State Attorney's Office apparently showing Johnson punching a woman in the face at a bar on June 24, Johnson was dismissed from the Seminoles football team and now faces a misdemeanor battery charge.

Jose Baez, Johnson's attorney, told NBC News that his client was provoked by the woman's behavior. The attorney says that the woman shouted "racial epithets" and raised her fist at Johnson when he accidentally made contact with her while walking up to the bar.

Although Johnson allegedly "tried to de-escalate the situation," his attorney says that the woman kneed Johnson in the groin area and took a shot at him a second time before he finally retaliated.

"It wasn't until she struck him twice that he reacted," said Baez. "He is very regretful that he didn't turn around and walk away immediately."

His attorney added that Johnson is not making excuses for what had transpired that night.

Calling the dismissal from the team "unfortunate," Baez claims that the 19-year-old is now volunteering at a shelter for battered women and wants to learn from this experience.

Court documents obtained by NBC News paint a different story, alleging that the victim was attempting to defend herself after being pushed and grabbed by Johnson. In an affidavit, a witness heard the victim yell "no" twice at Johnson before the punch.

In a statement released after Johnson was kicked off the Florida State team, the former quarterback says he is "extreme embarrassed by this situation."