Ex-Sonics star Shawn Kemp released in shooting case. Prosecutors want more investigation

Mar. 9—Former Seattle Supersonics star Shawn Kemp has been released from the Pierce County Jail following reports on Wednesday of an altercation between cars at the Tacoma Mall devolving into gunfire and the NBA legend’s subsequent arrest by police.

The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office declined to file charges on Thursday and requested the Tacoma Police Department investigate further. Jail records show Kemp, 53, was released at about 1 p.m. Public records indicate he lives in King County.

An attorney for Kemp, Scott Boatman, wrote in a statement to news media that his client’s car was broken into Tuesday night and he tracked his stolen iPhone to a car in the Tacoma Mall parking lot that had people inside on Wednesday.

“When Mr. Kemp approached the vehicle in an attempt to retrieve his stolen property, individuals inside the vehicle shot at Mr. Kemp, who then returned fire in self-defense,” Boatman wrote. “There was not a drive by shooting as previously reported and Mr. Kemp’s actions were reasonable and legally justified. Mr. Kemp met with law enforcement at the scene in an attempt to assist in the matter.”

The Tacoma Police Department did not return multiple calls from The News Tribune. Citing the active investigation, spokesperson Wendy Haddow declined to answer questions via email, including whether officers gathered a statement from Kemp, contacted the occupants of the car that reportedly fled or collected evidence of multiple weapons being fired.

“Anyone with information or video is asked to call Crime Stoppers,” Haddow wrote in an email.

Video footage from FOX 13 shows Kemp stayed in the area after gunfire was reported around 2 p.m. and pointed toward a fleeing car before he was detained by police.

Tacoma police booked Kemp into jail on suspicion of drive-by shooting just before 6 p.m. on Wednesday, according to jail records.

The sentencing range for drive-by shooting, a Class B felony in Washington, for people with no prior convictions is 15 to 20 months in prison, according to the state’s 2022 felony sentencing manual. State law defines the crime as recklessly discharging a firearm in a way that creates a risk of serious harm, either from inside a car or near a vehicle that was used as transportation to the scene.

Kemp, a former first-round pick nicknamed the “Reign Man,” played eight seasons with the Sonics and was a six-time NBA All-Star. A marijuana dispensary bearing his name recently opened in Seattle.

Boatman said Kemp has retained two criminal attorneys, Aaron Kiviat and Tim Leary, to defend him.

This story was originally published March 9, 2023, 12:27 PM.

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