Terrell Owens says he acted in self-defense when he knocked a man out at LA CVS

Retired NFL star Terrell Owens claimed a fight caught on camera in which he punched a man in a CVS parking lot was the result of an 'aggressor' threatening him and a fan he was talking to at the California store.

Owens, 48, said in a statement that he acted in self-defense Saturday night when the man 'made offensive gestures and threatening statements' to him and a fan who approached Owens.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver said the man approached him and the fan in the store, and in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, he walked outside, where the man followed.

'The aggressor continued threatening the fan just as he did in the store,' Owens told the AP. 'Once again, attempting to diffuse the ongoing situation, I placed myself between the fan and the aggressor. I made verbal demands asking the aggressor to stop his threatening behavior.'

Owens said the man 'swung at me first' before he 'felt obligated to prevent the aggressor from becoming more violent.'

Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens was recorded knocking out a man outside of a CVS in Inglewood, California on Saturday night

Owens, 48, told TMZ , that he ran into the LA-area pharmacy to buy 'a few necessities', when he bumped into a fan of the San Francisco 49ers – one of his former teams

While Owens chatted with the fan, another individual approached him and began heckling the pair. Witnesses say the troublemaker threatened to beat up both Owens and the 49ers fan outside the store

TMZ first reported the fight at the CVS in Inglewood and published a witness video showing Owens fighting a much smaller, shirtless man, who ultimately drops to the concrete by a strong right hand from the former NFL receiver.

The alleged heckler eventually got back on his feet, and still had more words for Owens, who was beginning to walk away. 

Video from the incident shows Owens fighting a smaller, shirtless man, who ultimately drops to the floor by a strong right hand from the former NFL receiver

Owens walked away after dropping the heckler and eventually drove off in his Tesla

It still remained unclear on Wednesday whether local police were called to the scene over the weekend after Owens had driven away in his Tesla. 

Inglewood police did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's phone calls and an email seeking comment.

'Like anyone else, I was making a stop at CVS and was blindsided by all of this,' Owens said. 'Unfortunately, I had to act using self-defense to end a threat towards myself and the fan. I will attempt to make positive from this negative experience.'

Owens ranks third in NFL history in career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Pictured: Owens playing for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Dallas Cowboys in 2005

A polarizing player in his day, Owens is considered among the greatest receivers in football history. The former Chattanooga star never won a Super Bowl but was a five-time First Team All-Pro before ending his NFL career with the Bengals in 2010. 

He attempted a comeback with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012, but never played in a regular-season game for the team. 

Owens has had a few run-ins with civilians this year, including a racially charged confrontation with a neighbor in Florida that ultimately went viral in August.