Former NBA star Shawn Kemp was sentenced Friday to 30 days of digital house monitoring for taking pictures at two males inside a automobile in a Washington state mall car parking zone.
Kemp should start house monitoring inside two weeks, The Seattle Instances reported. He should additionally serve one yr of state Division of Corrections supervision and full 240 hours of neighborhood service.
Prosecutors had beneficial the six-time NBA All-Star be sentenced to 9 months in jail, a yr of supervision and pay restitution.
Decide Michael Schwartz of Pierce County Superior Courtroom discovered the circumstances surrounding the crime warranted a lesser sentence, permitting Kemp to keep away from incarceration.
Kemp appeared on the ceiling and blew a huff of air when Schwartz introduced the sentence. He then repeatedly made the signal of the cross along with his hand.
Former Seattle Sonics basketball participant Shawn Kemp appears to be like on following his sentencing at Pierce County Superior Courtroom in Tacoma, Wash., on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025.
Ivy Ceballo / AP
Kemp, who performed for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1989 to 1997, pleaded responsible to an assault cost in Could as a part of a plea settlement.
Kemp stated he acted in self-defense through the March 2023 taking pictures. The protection claimed the 2 males Kemp shot at provoked the incident by stealing Kemp’s truck, his cellphone and memorabilia. The decide agreed.
Utilizing a phone-tracking app, Kemp situated and briefly tried to speak to the motive force of the 4Runner that was circling a on line casino car parking zone, in line with the trial transient. The boys within the automobile afterward dumped a few of Kemp’s belongings however held on to the cellphone, the transient says.
Kemp later noticed his cellphone was close to the Tacoma Mall. He drove there, noticed the identical 4Runner and “expressed his understandable frustration” with the motive force, in line with the transient. The person within the again seat “fired off a round from a handgun at Mr. Kemp. Mr. Kemp returned fire and attempted to disable the Toyota. It did not work,” the doc stated.
Jamon Kemp, middle left, and his father, former Seattle Sonic basketball participant Shawn Kemp, embrace after Shawn’s sentencing listening to at Pierce County Superior Courtroom in Tacoma, Wash., Friday, Aug. 22, 2025.
Ivy Ceballo / AP
The 4Runner fled, and when the automobile was discovered deserted days later, an empty holster was discovered inside however there was no gun, in line with court docket paperwork.
After the listening to, Kemp stated in an interview that “the last three years have been tough.” He stated he plans to be an advocate towards gun violence, particularly amongst youth.
“Think twice,” he stated. “Think twice when you get mad. Think twice when you get a little upset.”
A number of folks despatched letters of assist to the court docket on Kemp’s behalf. About 30 folks attended the listening to, together with his pastor and former NFL star Marshawn Lynch. Kemp was photographed embracing his son after the listening to.
Kemp debuted within the NBA through the 1989-90 season as a 20-year-old who had by no means performed school basketball. He additionally performed for Cleveland, Portland and Orlando and was identified for his high-flying dunks. He now has two licensed hashish shops in Seattle.
Extra from CBS Information
