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Shawn Kemp, a six-time NBA All-Star, has entered a guilty plea to a second-degree assault charge as part of a plea deal, as stated by the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Prior to a Tuesday update, the former athlete had been charged with first-degree assault, which could have resulted in a substantial prison sentence.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Kemp must submit a biological sample for a DNA law enforcement database and is prohibited from owning a firearm.
In March 2023, Kemp was involved in an incident where two men were shot inside a Toyota 4Runner in a Tacoma, Washington parking area.
His defense team contended that Kemp’s truck had been broken into on March 8. He tracked his stolen phone to the 4Runner, where one of the men was located, and attempted to confront the driver. Court documents reveal that the driver discarded some of the stolen items, kept the phone, and fled. Kemp subsequently used the tracking app again to locate his phone at Tacoma Mall. The defense argued that the man sitting in the back seat was the first to fire upon Kemp with a handgun, prompting Kemp to return fire.
“Shawn is focused on moving forward in a positive way,” said his attorney, Tim Leary. “He accepted an offer from the state that allows him to take responsibility while also acknowledging the self-defense aspect of the situation.”
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Howe has recommended a sentence of nine months in jail, one year of supervision and support from the Department of Corrections following his release, along with restitution payments.
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