Seattle Sonics legend Shawn Kemp avoids jail time despite shooting a gun at somebody
Shawn Kemp has avoided jail time, despite pleading guilty to shooting a gun at two men outside Tacoma Mall in March 2023.
Kemp, who starred for the NBA’s Seattle Sonics in the 1990s, was sentenced to 30 days of electronic home monitoring for second-degree assault on Friday, according to The Seattle Times. He must also serve one year of community custody and complete 240 hours of community service.
Facing a “standard range” of three to nine months in jail, the judge reportedly found that Kemp’s case warranted an exception.
The 55-year-old former basketball star shot at two men inside a Toyota 4Runner in March 2023. Luckily, no one was injured from the gunfire.
Kemp said he shot at the men in self-defence, after he was shot at first by someone in the vehicle. The Sonics legend reportedly confronted them after he believed they stole his truck, cell phone, and memorabilia.
“I’m very apologetic for what I did,” Kemp reportedly told the judge before being sentenced.
“He understands and appreciates that he could have and should have conducted himself differently that afternoon in the Tacoma Mall parking lot,” Kemp’s lawyer wrote in a sentencing memo.
The “Reign Man” was a six-time All-Star during his NBA career. He was one of the most exciting players of his era, regularly filling the highlight reel with thunderous dunks. Along with Gary Payton, he led the Sonics to the NBA Finals in 1996, before losing to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
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