Shawn Kemp Pleads Guilty in Seattle Area Mall Shooting
Former Seattle SuperSonics star Shawn Kemp pleaded guilty to second degree assault on Tuesday as part of a deal with Pierce County, Wash., prosecutors to resolve his charges for shooting at—he said in self-defense—two men inside a Toyota 4Runner outside the Tacoma Mall in 2023.
Kemp, 55, had faced charges for first degree assault and drive-by shooting for an incident where, according to Kemp's attorneys, Kemp returned fire at men in a car who allegedly shot at him first. None of the bullets hit anyone.
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Tacoma police saw the situation differently. Some of the video surveillance video allegedly didn't support Kemp's narration—including whether he was armed when he approached the 4Runner or, as Kemp said, whether he ran back to get his gun after being shot at. Also, 13 minutes before he arrived at the mall, Kemp allegedly texted 'I'm about to shoot this [expletive].'
While who shot first remained a point of contention, there was agreement Kemp had pursued this 4Runner. Kemp's attorneys explained that his truck was broken into and stolen from it were his iPhone, a Gary Payton jersey, the purse of one of Kemp's employees at his local cannabis dispensary and other items.
Kemp used an app to track his stolen phone and, according to The Seattle Times, initially had a conversation with one of the men in the parking lot of a casino. That discussion led the man to release some of Kemp's property but not the phone. Kemp later tracked the phone in the mall parking area, and he approached the 4Runner to demand the rest of his property be returned.
The two men in the 4Runner are now incarcerated for involvement in other criminal matters. One has sued Kemp for intentional infliction of emotional distress over the shooting.
Kemp will be sentenced on Aug. 22. He faces a maximum of a decade in prison, but prosecutors recommend the 6-foot-10, six-time NBA All-Star spend nine months in jail.
Kemp played 14 seasons in the NBA from 1990 to 2003, during which he reportedly earned $91.6 million in NBA salaries. He was three-time All-NBA and renowned for his high-flying dunking ability. Kemp also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic.
Nicknamed the Reign Man during his career, Kemp has been involved in other legal controversies. In 2000, Reebok terminated its $11.2 million endorsement deal with Kemp after he was quoted criticizing sneakers being made by footwear companies at that time. He also told a reporter that probably his favorite sneaker of all-time was Nike's Air Force II, which he wore while in high school. Kemp sued Reebok, which countersued Kemp, and the parties resolved the dispute via a settlement.
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