Former Sonics Star Shawn Kemp Charged with Assault After Allegedly Firing Gun in Mall Parking Lot

Shawn Kemp has been charged with first-degree assault.

via: The Atlantic

Former NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp was charged with one count of assault in the first degree Friday in regards to his involvement in a March 8 shooting incident in Tacoma, Wash., Adam Faber, Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office communications manager, told The Athletic.

Kemp was initially arrested but not charged for his involvement in the incident. Faber said at the time that the case would remain an open investigation. According to details from the investigation, a gun was recovered from a bush beside a building, which Kemp later admitted to having used and discarded.

An arraignment date for Kemp is scheduled for May 4.

Shortly after the shooting, the Tacoma Police Department shared details of the case via social media.

“At 1:58 pm, an altercation between the occupants of 2 cars led to shots being fired at a parking lot in the 4500 blk of S. Steele St,” the department tweeted on Wednesday. “One car fled. No injuries were reported. A gun was recovered. A 53-yr-old male was booked for Drive-By Shooting. The investigation is ongoing.”

“Late Tuesday evening Shawn Kemp’s vehicle was broken into and numerous items were stolen, including an iPhone,” Kemp’s attorney, W. Scott Boatman, said in a statement issued to ESPN at the time. “On Thursday, Mr. Kemp tracked his iPhone to an occupied vehicle in a shopping mall parking lot in Tacoma. When Mr. Kemp approached the vehicle in an attempt to retrieve his stolen property, individuals inside the vehicle shot at Mr. Kemp, who then returned fire in self- defense. There was not a drive by shooting as previously reported and Mr. Kemp’s actions were reasonable and legally justified. Mr. Kemp met with law enforcement at the scene in an attempt to assist in the matter. Mr Kemp has retained criminal attorneys Aaron Kiviat and Tim Leary to represent him and ensure that he is exonerated of all charges.”

Kemp played for Seattle from 1989 to 1997 and later joined the Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic. Kemp was a six-time NBA All-Star.

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