The shocking news that former NBA star Shawn Kemp was arrested for an alleged drive-by shooting in Washington State is drawing attention to local gun laws as law enforcement investigates the claims.
The 53-year-old who became an all-star basketball player while leading the Seattle Supersonics back in the 1990s was booked on Wednesday into the Pierce County Jail in Tacoma hours after allegedly exchanging gunfire from his car with another driver he said he suspected of stealing his property.
Kemp was hit with a drive-by shooting charge, which is a felony. If convicted, Kemp could be sent to prison for up to 10 years and pay a $20,000 fine. It was not immediately clear whether any additional criminal charges would be tacked on.
Local news outlet Fox 13 reported that “the shooting was in self-defense,” citing anonymous sources.
“Sources close to Kemp told FOX 13’s David Rose that he had property stolen from his car on Tuesday, tracked his iPhone to Tacoma on Wednesday and when he approached the vehicle, a suspect shot at him,” Fox 13 reported. “He fired back in self-defense.”
The other driver, who was not immediately identified, reportedly drive away while Kemp stayed at the scene. No injuries were reported.
A gun was recovered at the scene. Kemp was still taken into custody and arrested in spite of the reported assertion of self-defense that appears to be permitted under Washington state law.
Video footage of Kemp firing a gun in the parking lot was posted to social media. One brief clip shows Kemp not in any car and shooting, but it is unclear what came before he fired the gun while surrounded by cars.
The video draws into question what constitutes a “drive-by shooting,” the felony charge that Kemp faces.
Another clip shows Kemp standing in the parking lot purportedly following the shooting as the sound of approaching police sirens could be heard in the background.
TMZ reported that the video footage came after other…
Read the full article here
