Shawn Kemp lawyers claim bias in Tacoma Mall shooting case as trial nears
The Brief
Shawn Kemp's attorneys have filed a series of motions relating to his first-degree assault charge from a 2023 shooting at Tacoma Mall.
Kemp allegedly confronted two men with lengthy criminal histories after tracking his stolen phone, leading to a shootout captured on video.
The trial begins next week, but police and prosecutors may dispute Kemp's self-defense claim.
TACOMA, Wash. - The attorneys of Shawn Kemp have filed a series of motions in the case against him for a 2023 shooting at the Tacoma Mall.
Kemp's lawyers claim his first-degree assault charge stems from an encounter involving two men with a lengthy criminal history, who allegedly shot at the former SuperSonic before he returned fire.
The trial is scheduled to begin next week, with pre-trial hearings starting on Thursday.
The backstory
Kemp, who allegedly had his truck broken into, tracked his stolen phone using an app and confronted Dajuan Jackson and Joshua Puente.
The ex-NBA star initially interacted with the accused car prowlers in the Emerald Queen Casino parking lot, where they dumped Kemp's items onto the side of the road, according to court documents.
On the afternoon of March 8, 2023, Kemp once again tracked down Jackson and Puente, this time at the Tacoma Mall, where he made another attempt to recover his belongings.
Kemp's attorneys claim Puente fired a round from a handgun at Kemp, and Kemp returned fire in an attempt to disable their Toyota. The shooting was captured on video.
Tacoma police arrived at the scene and arrested Kemp. He was booked into jail and released a day later after no charges were initially filed.
What's next
Now, two years later, Kemp's defense has filed a series of motions in the case, citing bias and the criminal history of Jackson and Puente.
Jackson is currently incarcerated at the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, Washington, for shooting a man three times at a Renton gas station. Court documents state Jackson said in an interview that "he was running from Shawn Kemp" on the day of the shooting.
Puente has previous convictions for theft, vehicle prowling, possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude police, assault, and several more crimes in western Washington.
"Evidence of Jackson's and Puente's bias, motivation to testify and Jackson's ongoing attempts to harm Mr. Kemp is exceptionally relevant," states a memorandum from Kemp's defense.
While Kemp claims he fired in self-defense, police have not corroborated this claim, and said witness video shows otherwise. Prosecutors also say Kemp sent a text before the incident suggesting he may have intended to shoot someone.
Kemp was charged over a month following the shooting with first-degree assault. The trial is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, May 27.
The Source
Information in this story came from court documents filed in Pierce County Superior Court, the Department of Corrections, and previous FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
Tacoma cold case investigation yields no new evidence in Teekah Lewis case
Nordstrom to go private after acquisition with family, Mexican retail group
Marymoor Park announces 2025 summer concert series lineup in Redmond, WA
Olympia, WA man dies at Grand Canyon after lengthy hike
Washington raising price of Discover Pass
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Ex-New Orleans jail worker charged with aiding high-profile breakout
Ex-New Orleans jail worker charged with aiding high-profile breakout Show Caption Hide Caption New Orleans DA talks about prison inmates escape investigation Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams talks about his investigation into how 10 inmates managed to escape a New Orleans jail. A former New Orleans jail employee believed to be the girlfriend of escapee Derrick Groves has been arrested and charged with allegedly helping facilitate the high-profile jailbreak, authorities said. Deputies with the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Darriana Burton, 28, in New Orleans on June 9, according to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's office. The attorney general's office said Burton was taken into custody without incident. Agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service coordinated to arrest Burton and obtained an arrest warrant on May 27. The attorney general's office said Burton was wanted in connection with the escape of 10 inmates, who fled the Orleans Parish jail on May 16. Authorities accused Burton of aiding in Groves' escape. She faces a felony charge of conspiracy to commit simple escape and was taken into custody in the Plaquemines Parish jail, according to the attorney general's office. "Burton is believed to be the current girlfriend of Derrick Groves," the attorney general's office said in a statement. "We have confirmed they were in an on-again, off-again relationship for three years." From August 2022 to March 2023, Burton was employed at the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, according to the attorney general's office. Burton was fired from her job in 2023 after she was arrested for allegedly bringing contraband into the jail and malfeasance in office. The charges were dropped by the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office in October 2024, the attorney general's office said. 'We will continue to pursue anyone and everyone who has aided and abetted these criminals. We will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you to the full extent of the law," Murrill said in a statement. "I'd like to thank the US Marshals Service for executing our warrant for this woman. We will arrest all aiders and abettors, and we will eventually get Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves back to prison where they belong." 'Get it together': Fear and anger in New Orleans turn to calls for action over jail escape How did the inmates escape? Ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish jail in the early morning of May 16. Authorities previously said that the group escaped through a hole in a cell wall after ripping away a toilet and sink unit. Three were recaptured by the end of the same day, and five more were caught in the weeks after. Two of them were found over 300 miles away in Huntsville, Texas, and led authorities there on a high-speed chase before they were apprehended. Antoine Massey, 32, and Groves, 27, are the two inmates still at large. Massey has made national headlines in recent weeks after two videos posted on social media showed a man purporting to be the escapee. State and local authorities said they were aware of the videos and were reviewing them. Authorities previously announced awards of up to $20,000 per inmate for information leading to their arrests. Authorities are currently offering $50,000 for tips leading to the arrest of Massey and Groves. Groves was convicted of two charges of second-degree murder and two charges of attempted second-degree murder in October in connection with a shooting during Mardi Gras in 2018. Groves also has been awaiting sentencing on a manslaughter charge since October. Massey is charged with domestic abuse involving strangulation and theft of a motor vehicle, according to Orleans Parish records. There also is a warrant for his arrest in St. Tammany Parish for second-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, domestic abuse involving strangulation and violation of a protective order involving battery stemming from an incident in November, the parish's sheriff's office said. New Orleans jail escape: Maps and videos show how it happened People arrested for helping escaped New Orleans inmates Authorities previously said they suspected that other people had either helped the inmates escape from the prison or helped them evade capture. At least 16 people have been arrested, including Burton, for aiding the escapees. On May 26, police announced the arrests of Diamond White, 21; Lenika Vanburen, 28; Tyshanea Randolph, 27; Patricia Vanburen, 18; Angel McKay, 41; and Lenton Vanburen Sr., 48. All were booked into the Plaquemines Parish jail, according to Louisiana State Police spokesperson Sergeant Kate Stegall. White was arrested for helping Massey while the others were accused of aiding 26-year-old escapee, Lenton Vanburen Jr. On May 23, Murrill announced that Trevon Williams, 23, was charged with 10 counts of being a principal to simple escape. Williams was already incarcerated at the New Orleans jail on unrelated charges. Also on May 23, the New Orleans Police Department said it arrested Emmitt Weber, 28, on a charge of accessory after the fact of simple escape. Weber was one of four people questioned after investigators "combed through surveillance footage, connecting crucial dots in the search," police said. Jail maintenance worker, Sterling Williams, 33, was charged with being a principal to simple escape and malfeasance in office. Murrill said Williams admitted that he complied with a demand from one of the inmates to shut off the water to a cell, which allowed the escapees to remove the toilet and sink unit. Others arrested in connection with the prison escape include Casey Smith, 30; Connie Weeden, 59; Cortnie Harris, 32; and Corvanntay Baptiste, 28. Authorities accused them of being in contact with and helping the inmates. According to a 21-year-old woman was arrested and charged with being a principal to aggravated escape and obstruction of justice in connection with the case. The news outlet also reported that Daishanae Massey, 31, was booked with being an accessory after the fact to simple escape. It was unclear whether Daishanae Massey and Antoine Massey are related. Contributing: Jeanine Santucci and Michael Loria, USA TODAY
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jackson police arrest man accused of pointing gun at officer in crackdown
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Police said two men have been charged after illegal guns and drugs were found in South Jackson. Onterrio McDougle, 20, and Zybralian Johnson, 19, were both arrested on Friday, June 6 when authorities conducted a search warrant on a home in the 3000 block of Meadow Forest. Police said multiple guns, including guns with switches, were recovered. Officers also seized a felony about of marijuana, money and four stolen vehicles. 19-year-old wanted for shooting death of Jackson teen McDougle was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, terrorist threats, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm and four counts of possession of a machine gun conversion device. Johnson was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm and four counts of possession of a machine gun conversion device. According to police, McDougle was wanted for a social media post from March that showed him pointing a gun at a law enforcement officer. Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said neighbors helped identify the suspects after multiple complaints. 'These individuals were pillaging their community, pillaging their street in their neighborhood. I had citizens calling me about them, getting out there, shooting. Had citizens calling me about them, walking up and down the streets with these assault rifles,' the police chief said. Anyone with information about gun or drug crimes can contact the Jackson Police Department (JPD) at 601-960-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS (8477). Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Chicago man charged with raping woman in Merrillville
A Chicago man was charged with rape from an August 2024 incident in Merrillville. Jeremy Cornell Jackson, 38, is charged with rape, a Level 3 felony. He is at large with bail set at $3,000, according to Lake County court records. On August 25, 2024, Merrillville Police were dispatched to a residence where a woman told police that 'Leante' Jackson had raped her, according to a probable cause affidavit. She had been dating him for about four months after meeting on a dating app. On Aug. 24, the woman told police that Jackson arrived at her house around 12:15 p.m., records state. The pair smoked marijuana and started kissing and cuddling; the two had not previously engaged in sexual intercourse. She asked Jackson if he had protection and he replied that he did not, court records state. While she was reaching toward her nightstand for a condom, he forced himself on her, putting his hands around her neck and choking her, and having sex with her despite her telling him to stop multiple times. The rape lasted about eight minutes, the affidavit states. Jackson then asked her, 'What are you going to do, cry about it?' Eventually, she was able to break free and Jackson replied 'I'm done,' gathering his personal items and leaving, court records state. At that point, the victim called police. She was transported to Methodist Hospital Northlake where a sexual assault exam was performed, records state. The kit was forwarded to the Indiana State Police lab, where it was analyzed and male DNA was located. The victim gave police the suspect's phone number and his Instagram username 'king jay jack,' which she had taken screenshots of, the affidavit states. She said they mainly communicated through phone and not Instagram. Police filed a preservation request for the 'kingjayjack' account on Aug. 29, court records state. On Sept. 3, the victim told police she believed that she met 'Leante' on Bumble. She described him as a 38-year-old Black man, who was between 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-2 and has a 'big belly' and dark skin with a low beard, records state. She identified Jackson in a six-person photo lineup. Police contacted Jackson on Sept. 6 and he agreed to meet with police on Sept. 12, but failed to show up for the interview without notice, the affidavit states. Police called him and were forwarded to his voice mail where they advised him to call and reschedule. Police have yet to hear back from Jackson, records state. Police were granted a search warrant to examine Jackson's cell photo records, which showed him traveling to Lake County from Benton Harbor, Michigan, on the day of the alleged rape before he was present at the victim's residence.
