Former NBA star Shawn Kemp has reached a plea deal with prosecutors in his parking lot shooting case, according to TMZ.
A representative of the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said Kemp appeared in court on Tuesday morning and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree assault. He had been facing a first-degree assault charge after allegedly firing a gun in the parking lot of a mall in Tacoma, Washington, in March 2023.
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Kemp, 54, spent 14 years in the NBA with the SuperSonics, Cavaliers, Trail Blazers and Magic. He was named an All-Star six times in his career.
Here's a look at the charges in Kemp's parking lot shooting case.
MORE: Shawn Kemp arrested, booked in connection with drive-by shooting in Tacoma
Shawn Kemp arrest
Kemp pleaded guilty to a second-degree assault charge in his case, where he allegedly fired shots at another individual in the parking lot of a mall in Tacoma.
Shawn Kemp Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge In Parking Lot Shooting Case | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/xoqX6nOHd4
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) May 27, 2025
It is unclear whether Kemp will face prison time. Prosecutors said in a statement on Tuesday that "the plea agreement between the parties is for an open sentencing recommendation, meaning each side is free to make its own recommendation to the judge at the sentencing hearing."
Shawn Kemp shooting
Shawn Kemp was arrested on March 9, 2023 after a suspected drive-by shooting in the parking lot of the mall. According to the Tacoma Police Department "an altercation between the occupants of two cars led to shots being fired."
Fox 13 News in Seattle reported that Kemp said the shooting was in self defense. The perpetrator allegedly stole property from Kemp's car, who then tracked his iPhone to the mall parking lot in Tacoma. When Kemp approached the vehicle, the driver shot at him, and the former NBA player fired back.
Kemp's attorney, Scott Boatman later issued a statement to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski confirming his clients account of the events.
Shawn Kemp trial
The Superior Court of Washington for Pierce County originally charged Kemp with first-degree assault.
The court stated that Kemp, allegedly armed with a .357-caliber revolver, acted with "intent to inflict great bodily harm, intentionally assault another person with a firearm or deadly weapon or by any force or means likely to produce great bodily harm or death." A witness reported seeing a person who matched the description of Kemp throw the revolver in the bushes after the altercation, which the suspect admitted to, according to Tacoma police.
On Tuesday, Kemp pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second degree assault, closing his case. He will return to court for sentencing on August 22.