Shawn Kemp Avoids Jail Time In Shooting Incident

Former SuperSonics forward and six-time NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp was sentenced to 30 days of electronic home monitoring for shooting at two men inside a vehicle in a Washington state mall parking lot in 2023. He must also serve one year of state Department of Corrections supervision and complete 240 hours of community service, according to the Associated Press.

Kemp entered a guilty plea to a second-degree assault charge in May. At the time, prosecutors recommended a nine-month jail sentence, a year of supervision and pay restitution.

However, Judge Michael Schwartz of Pierce County Superior Court found the circumstances surrounding the case warranted a lesser sentence, allowing Kemp to avoid jail time.

Kemp claimed he acted in self-defense and returned fire after one of the men shot at him from inside their Toyota 4Runner vehicle. The defense also claimed that the two men Kemp shot at provoked the shooting by stealing Kemp’s truck, his cellphone and memorabilia in Seattle.

The Toyota 4Runner the men were inside and another vehicle were damaged in the March 2023 shooting, but the men were not hurt.

Kemp’s attorney, W. Scott Boatman, issued a statement from his client to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears (Twitter link) that expressed gratitude regarding the sentence.

“Shawn is extremely grateful that the Court exercised its discretion to not impose any jail time and further based that decision on the fact that Shawn’s actions occurred as a result of a failed attempt of self defense. Shawn is genuinely regretful of certain decisions he made that day and is committed to working with kids to help them understand the potential consequences of not thinking twice or acting impulsively.”

Kemp played in the NBA from 1989-2003.