Retired six-time NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp has been arrested in Washington state on a felony shooting charge, jail records show.
Kemp, who played eight of his 14 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, was booked into a Pierce County jail shortly before 6 p.m. local time Wednesday, hours after police said they responded to a report of shots fired at the Tacoma Mall in Tacoma, Wash.
“Responding Officers determined that an altercation had occurred between two parties in vehicles,” the Tacoma Police Department said. “One of the drivers fired several bullets at the occupants of the other vehicle. The victim’s vehicle fled the area.”
No injuries were reported.
“Officers located the suspect who fired the shots on Tacoma Mall property and took him into custody without incident,” police said. “A firearm was recovered from the scene.”
Kemp, 53, has not commented publicly, but sources close to him claim fired a gun in self-defense, according to Tacoma news station KCPQ. Sources say Kemp followed the stolen items from his car to Tacoma and that someone else shot him before opening fire.
Cellphone video released by the television station shows a man in a red vest raising his arms in what appears to be a mall parking lot.
The SuperSonics, which became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008, drafted Kemp in the first round of the 1989 NBA draft. Kemp also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic, averaging 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in 14 NBA seasons.
Kemp, who retired in 2003, was previously arrested on drug charges in 2005 and 2006. He now runs a pair of cannabis dispensaries in the Seattle area.
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