Shawn Kemp, a former NBA star, was arrested on a felony drive-by shooting charge
The Tacoma Police Department said officers responded to reports of shots fired in an altercation between the occupants of two vehicles on Wednesday. According to the report, one of the drivers had fired several rounds at the occupants of the other vehicle.
Shawn Kemp, a former NBA player, was arrested and booked into a Washington state jail on Wednesday following a drive-by shooting.
According to county records, Kemp was booked into a Pierce County jail shortly before 6 p.m. local time (9 p.m. ET) on a felony drive-by shooting charge. Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Darren Moss Jr. confirmed the suspect’s identity.
Officers responded to reports of shots fired in an altercation between the occupants of two vehicles shortly before 2 p.m. local time (5 p.m. ET), according to the Tacoma Police Department.
According to police, one of the drivers fired several rounds at the occupants of the other vehicle before the “victim vehicle” fled the scene.
They said the suspect, who they only identified as a 53-year-old man, was apprehended without incident and booked into a local jail. According to them, a firearm was recovered from the scene.
A Tacoma Police Department spokesperson declined to comment further on the arrest.
A man in a red vest jacket can be seen arguing with another person in videos that appear to capture parts of the altercation. As the other person’s vehicle begins to pull away, the person in the red vest jacket begins to point at them as sirens sound.
In another video, the person wearing the red vest jacket appears to raise their arm before what appears to be a gunshot rings out.
Kemp was a star for the Seattle SuperSonics, who are now the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team selected him with the 17th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft, and he went on to play 14 seasons in the league. Kemp also spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Orlando Magic.
According to The Associated Press, Kemp was arrested twice in the early 2000s on drug charges, including marijuana possession.
The former NBA star now owns at least one marijuana dispensary in Seattle.
Under Washington law, drive-by shooting is classified as a class B felony. If convicted, Kemp could face up to ten years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
