Shawn Kemp, once known for his thunderous dunks and high-flying heroics with the Seattle SuperSonics, now finds himself facing a far different reality — a courtroom, a guilty plea, and a looming jail sentence. On Tuesday, the six-time NBA All-Star pleaded guilty to second-degree assault stemming from a dramatic 2023 shooting in a mall parking lot in Tacoma, Washington.
It’s a stark contrast for the 55-year-old who, decades earlier, helped lead the Sonics to the 1996 NBA Finals. This time, Kemp wasn’t battling Michael Jordan’s Bulls. He was confronting two men he believed had stolen from him, and the result was a gunfire exchange in a crowded public space.
From Celebration to Chaos
The incident unfolded on March 8, 2023, after what was supposed to be a night of celebration. Kemp and employees of his cannabis dispensary had attended a concert in Seattle. Sometime during the evening, his truck was broken into. Thieves made off with valuable items including the keys to his business, an employee’s purse, his iPhone, and sports memorabilia set aside for auction. Among the stolen pieces were game-worn jerseys of Kemp and his former teammate Gary Payton.
Fueled by a mix of frustration and a tracking app, Kemp located his stolen phone. It led him to a Toyota 4Runner near the Emerald Queen Casino. There, Kemp reportedly confronted the men inside. They dumped some of the stolen items but sped away with the phone. Hours later, Kemp tracked the device again — this time to the parking lot of Tacoma Mall.
A Dangerous Encounter
According to Kemp’s defense, the encounter escalated when a man hidden in the back seat of the 4Runner allegedly fired a shot at him. In what Kemp described as a response in self-defense, he returned fire. No one was injured, but the SUV was struck multiple times. The vehicle fled and was later discovered abandoned.
Court records and surveillance footage presented a complex picture. Prosecutors argued that video evidence didn’t support Kemp’s version of events and suggested his demeanor appeared more aggressive than defensive. One deputy prosecutor wrote that Kemp seemed more angry than scared. Kemp’s .357 Magnum revolver was recovered at the scene, and a search of his Porsche revealed an AR-15-style pistol, though it wasn’t used in the incident.
A Legal Tightrope
Originally charged with first-degree assault and facing a possible 10-year firearm enhancement, Kemp avoided trial through a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, significantly reducing his potential sentence. Prosecutors recommended nine months in jail, one year of community custody, and restitution payments.
The case had further complications. The men in the 4Runner had lengthy criminal records. One of them, Dajuan Jackson, had been convicted in a separate drive-by shooting and was serving over seven years in prison. Jackson also filed a civil lawsuit against Kemp seeking $250,000 in damages for emotional distress.
Due to the criminal histories of the witnesses and key facts — including the theft of Kemp’s belongings and inconsistencies in video footage — the prosecution agreed the case was best resolved outside the courtroom. As part of the plea agreement, Kemp must provide a DNA sample and is barred from owning a firearm.
Looking Ahead
Kemp is scheduled to be sentenced on August 22. He remains free until then.
His attorney, Tim Leary, noted that the plea deal allows Kemp to take responsibility while acknowledging the context of self-defense. Kemp himself has remained silent publicly since the hearing, but his legal team suggests he is focused on redemption and community work.
“Shawn has learned a tremendous amount throughout this process,” Leary said. “He’s committed to using this as a turning point, to give back, and to speak to the consequences of decisions made in the heat of the moment.”
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